The Cab Ride
I arrived at the address and honked the horn.
after waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked.. ‘Just a minute’, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.. ‘Would you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I told her.. ‘I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.’ ‘Oh, you’re such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, ‘Could you drive through downtown?’
‘It’s not the shortest way,’ I answered quickly..
‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. ‘I don’t have any family left,’ she continued in a soft voice.. ‘The doctor says I don’t have very long.’ I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
‘What route would you like me to take?’ I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, ‘I’m tired. Let’s go now’.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
‘How much do I owe you?’ She asked, reaching into her purse.
‘Nothing,’ I said
‘You have to make a living,’ she answered.
‘There are other passengers,’ I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.
‘You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,’ she said ‘Thank you.’
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life..
I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life. We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID ~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL
You won’t get any big surprise in 10 days if you send this to ten people. But, you might help make the world a little kinder and more compassionate by sending it on and reminding us that often it is the random acts of kindness that most benefit all of us.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.
Except for the fact that the ac is on and the kids are in the pool… I really feel the Christmas spirit… Maybe it’s the ac blowing down my back.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Dear Family and Friends, December 2011
2011 was a year of endings and new beginnings for us…
In February, we said good bye to Melodie’s 17 year old feline companion,Casper. He had not been feeling well for several months and we knew it was time to say goodbye. She still misses her special buddy. Melodie also had several medical issues. In February, she had cataract surgery on her one eye which eventually gave her better vision. Thank the Lord!
In April,Tom and Melodie were able to enjoy a Southern cruise vacation They went alone to enrich their marriage. They continue to be a pre-martial host couple at Calvary Chapel and help couples planning to get married or sometimes who are already married! Serving together in this capacity is beneficial for both of them as a couple.
Carlos stayed with Grandpa and Grandma during the cruise and had special treatment for the week! Carlos enjoys his time with his grandparents. He plays ping pong with Grandpa and appreciates Grandma’s treats when he goes to their home.
In June, Carlos was given the honor of being a part of the Junior Honor’s Society. He is still trying to grasp the value of his education in addition to adapting to middle school work. He makes friends easily with his great sense of humor and does well in classes he enjoys. Carlos is becoming an intelligent young man full of life and ambition!
For Carlos’ birthday in July, Mom and Dad took Carlos to Epcot, Universal and Islands of Adventure so Carlos could experience this fun for the very first time. Although we dealt with rain, we know Carlos will always remember this special trip to Orlando!
Later in July, Melodie had a bout with an e-coli bacterial infection and needed to be hospitalized after fainting from low blood pressure. Presently, her doctor continues to work to get her kidney function back to normal after it was affected from this bad infection. God is good and He continues to help Melodie day-by-day.
In September, after months of looking and considering another pet, we adopted Coco from a local German Shepherd rescue. Coco was found in Miami and Tom is proud of his second Spanish child! She was 4 months when we got her; fragile from worms and malnourished. Cody is slowly adjusting to his new, rambunctious playmate. Coco is very intelligent, affectionate and loves to play with her rope toys and brothers!
In October, Tom and Melodie decided to move Carlos to a charter school that was smaller. Carlos was sad to leave the previous school. Our hope is that the teachers’ interaction will help Carlos and have a positive influence on him. We now get up at 5:30am and Carlos takes a bus to school. We continue to ask for prayer in this transition. He is making friends and doing better in school.
Tom and Melodie continue to work for their company, SEO Does Matter, Inc. The Lord continues to bless their work and brings the needed clients and income to support the family. Tom focuses on search engine optimization primarily for security and executive protection clients. He gets to partake in training and takes photos for one of his clients every month. Melodie continues to do the accounting, blogging and helps clients with social media and other internet marketing.
With 2011 ending, we thank each and every one of you for your friendship and visits! God is good all the time and we look forward to the plans He has for us in 2012!
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Tom, Melodie, Carlos, Coty and Coco
Announcing the world television premier of an exciting new documentary about the Israel most people never see. Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference, will debut Tuesday,November 29th, at 8pm on PBS of South Florida (WPBT2).
The film sidesteps the usual conversation of politics, conflict and violence and focuses on Israel’s human side and its global contributions.
Click www.israelinsidethemovie.com to watch a preview, and to learn more about the film.
Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/
Reviews:
http://www.sdjewishworld.com/
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/
I trust that you and your family had a blessed Thanksgiving. I’m enjoying some family time in New Jersey- be back soon…..
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STEMBERGER TO DEBATE CASINO LEADERS AT FORT LAUDERDALE / BROWARD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FORUM ON GAMBLING
(FORT LAUDERDALE, FL) On Tuesday morning, November 29, 2011, from 7:30 to 9:30am at the Westin Cypress Creek Hotel, 400 Corporate Drive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a debate forum will be held on the current legislative proposal to expand casinos in Florida. Orlando attorney John Stemberger, the President of the Florida Family Policy Council will be the sole anti-gambling voice on the five person panel which is being sponsored by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.
The forum will also feature some of the top advocates for the Casino Industry including State Senator Elyn Bogdanoff, the sponsor of the Florida Casino bill; Dan Adkins, President of the Marti Gras Casino; Bob Wyre, General Manager of Isle Casino and Racin; and Nick Larossi, Lobbyist for Los Vegas Sands. The debate will be moderated by the Editor of the Sun Sentinel Newspaper, Antonio Fins. Thirty minutes will be set aside for questions from the audience during the forum.
Other co-sponsors of the forum on gaming include the Mirmar/ Pembroke Pines Chamber of Commerce, Tamarac Chamber of Commerce, Greater Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce, Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Broward County Council on Chambers.
Tickets to the breakfast event are $30.00 per person and can be purchased online at the Fort Lauderdale Chamber website www.ftlchamber.com/gaming or by contacting Heather House at 954.462.4976 or heather@ftlchamber.com. Registration closes at noon on Monday November 28, 2011.
These are actual comments made by South Carolina Troopers that were taken off their car videos:
1. “You know, stop lights don’t come any redder than the one you just went through.”
2. “Relax, the handcuffs are tight because they’re new. They’ll stretch after you wear them a while.”
3. “If you take your hands off the car, I ‘ll make your birth certificate a worthless document.” (My Favorite)
4. “If you run, you’ll only go to jail tired.”
5. “Can you run faster than 1200 feet per second? Because that’s the speed of the bullet that’ll be chasing you.” (LOVE IT)
6. “You don’t know how fast you were going? I guess that means I can write anything I want to on the ticket, huh?”
7. “Yes, sir, you can talk to the shift supervisor, but I don’t think it will help. Oh, did I mention that I’m the shift supervisor?”
8. “Warning! You want a warning? O.K, I’m warning you not to do that again or I’ll give you another ticket.”
9. “The answer to this last question will determine whether you are drunk or not. Was Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog?”
10. “Fair? You want me to be fair? Listen, fair is a place where you go to ride on rides, eat cotton candy and corn dogs and step in monkey poop.”
11. “Yeah, we have a quota. Two more tickets and my wife gets a toaster oven.”
12. “In God we trust; all others we run through NCIC.” ( National Crime Information Center )
13. “Just how big were those ‘two beers’ you say you had?”
14. “No sir, we don’t have quotas anymore. We used to, but now we’re allowed to write as many tickets as we can.”
15. “I’m glad to hear that the Chief (of Police) is a personal friend of yours. So you know someone who can post your bail.”
AND THE WINNER IS….
16. “You didn’t think we give pretty women tickets? You’re right, we don’t. Sign here.”
This was sent to me, I am forwarding it because it does touch a nerve in me..
This is another example of what Rick Perry called “TREASON in high places” !!!
Get angry and pass this on!
Remember, not only did you contribute to Social Security but your employer did too. It totaled 15% of your income before taxes. If you averaged only $30K over your working life, that’s close to $220,500.
If you calculate the future value of $4,500 per year (yours & your employer’s contribution) at a simple 5% (less than what the govt. pays on the money that it borrows), after 49 years of working you’d have $892,919.98.
If you took out only 3% per year, you’d receive $26,787.60 per year and it would last better than 30 years (until you’re 95 if you retire at age 65) and that’s with no interest paid on that final amount on deposit! If you bought an annuity and it paid 4% per year, you’d have a lifetime income of $2,976.40 per month.
The folks in Washington have pulled off a bigger Ponzi scheme than Bernie Madhoff ever had.
Entitlement my ass, I paid cash for my social security insurance!!!! Just because they borrowed the money, doesn’t make my benefits some kind of charity or handout!!
Congressional benefits —- free healthcare, outrageous retirement packages, 67 paid holidays, three weeks paid vacation, unlimited paid sick days, now that’s welfare, and they have the nerve to call my social security retirement entitlements?
We’re “broke” and can’t help our own Seniors, Veterans, Orphans, Homeless
In the last months we have provided aid to Haiti , Chile , and Turkey . And now Pakistan ……home of bin Laden. Literally, BILLIONS of DOLLARS!!!
Our retired seniors living on a ‘fixed income’ receive no aid nor do they get any breaks while our government and religious organizations pour Hundreds of Billions of $$$$$$’s and Tons of Food to Foreign Countries!
They call Social Security and Medicare an entitlement even though most of us have been paying for it all our working lives and now when it’s time for us to collect, the government is running out of money. Why did the government borrow from it in the first place? Imagine if the *GOVERNMENT* gave ‘US’ the same support they give to other countries.
Sad isn’t it?
The police stop a senior citizen early in the morning for driving erratically; they ask why he is out so late at night. The man replies, “I am on my way to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body, relationships as well as smoking and staying out late.” Curious, the officer asks, “Who is giving that lecture at this time of night?” The man replies with a sheepish grin, “my wife.”
Funny Police Stories
Returning home from work, a blonde was shocked to find her house ransacked and burglarized. She telephoned the police at once and reported the crime. The police dispatcher broadcast the call on the radio and a K-9 unit patrolling nearby was the first to respond.
As the K-9 officer approached the house with his dog on a leash, the blonde ran out on the porch, shuddered at the sight of the cop and his dog, then sat down on the steps. Putting her face in her hands, she moaned, ‘I come home to find all my possessions stolen. I call the police for help, and what do they do? They send me a BLIND policeman!’