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Thursday, September 22, 2011

"The Cab Ride... 'Obama Da Dog'

"Obama da Dog tells us one of her favorite stories about a cab ride..."

Obama Da Dog with the lady she calls 'Mom..'

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 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.

 Below Douglas Dunn pictured with his New electric Car!(The  Leaf) We are looking forward to his upcoming blog....
NO gas.NO oil changes.NO tune-ups.NO valves, rings, pistons, timing belt.NO transmission, transmission fluid or shifting gears to interrupt acceleration.NO carburetor or air filter.NO radiator or coolant or hoses to maintain.NO regular power-train maintenance.NO smog checks ever.
Just say NO! This coming Tuesday September 27Th, Doug will tell us about his new Leaf on Life!



The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)

"Do it Now..!'Michael Herr' (Aloha Friday)

Renowned author Michael Herr is back on this awesome Aloha Friday talking about  doing things now! Make sure and check out Michael's website at; http://www.michaelherr.com/

Putting the duties of life ahead of the pleasures of life all too often brings about a wasted life...

 ALOHA FRIDAY
September 23

It's Aloha Friday.

Do It Now

Has anyone ever said one of these things to you?

"Daddy, can we go to the park?" "Mommy, can we bake cookies?" "Honey, would you like to go see this movie?" "Shall we take a vacation this year and go to (fill in the blank)?" "Your parents have invited us for dinner, shall we go?"

Did you ever respond with . . . "Maybe later." "Not right now." "I'm too tired." "We can't afford it." "That's not convenient."

Or the worst response, "We'll get around to it someday."

At times each of those responses may be appropriate, but they should not become the norm for your life. Putting the duties of life ahead of the pleasures of life all too often brings about a wasted life.

Recently a friend told me about a wonderful vacation he and his wife had aboard a sailing ship; a Tall Ship cruise. I checked out his recommendation and found it was indeed a wonderful thing. Just the kind of thing I would love to do. And then I realized the problems my wife would have getting on board this ship and moving about on the ship. You see, she's recently in a wheelchair. And our horizons are so much more confined now. Then I started thinking, if only we had done this a few years ago. Back when she was not bound to her wheelchair. How she would have enjoyed this. And I remembered that I had thought about this type of trip back then. But I'd told myself that we had plenty of time to take this trip later. Time ran out on us.

I remember also many years ago when my son was so much younger, how he loved to take piggyback rides. I would hoist him on my shoulders and we would jump around whooping and hollering. But so many times I came home from work with a load of stuff (what a good word for things that at the time seem so important, but later on don't). And when he asked for a piggyback ride I gave him one of those responses above.

And then one day my eyes opened and I saw how big he had grown. So big that I could no longer physically lift him onto my back. So mature that the idea of a piggyback ride would embarrass him. And I realized that a part of my life was gone for good. That I could never get it back. No more piggyback rides with the young boy he had been. Now I can only hope there's enough time left to give some piggyback rides to my grand-kids.

Don't let time run out on you.

Much aloha.

check out Michael's website at http://www.michaelherr.com/  buy all six books for only $18
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this blog site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Publisher of Dakinetalk the blog, but they could? ;D)
If you would like to express yourself about any subject you feel passionate about, please  feel free to submit a guest blog to dakinetalk. Please limit guest blogs between 200-500 words, along with a short bio and photo of yourself. Send all blog submissions to; jrsensei@hotmail.com  who knows your blog could go viral!