Read or watch the story below. What lesson in communication did you learn? What is the moral to this story? What does this story tell us about moments? What would have happened if the cab driver would have done one thing differently? Think on these things...what is the lesson you take away from this story, this moment? The Last Cab Ride Posted by Stephen on November 20, 2009 in Life, Moral Stories Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. One time I arrived in the middle of the night for a pick up at a building that was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away. But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself. So 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 80’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 1940s 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, 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. “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.” 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, 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. A true story by Kent Nerburn
66 Comments
Heather Hinkley
9/21/2016 06:40:20 pm
This video reminded me that every encounter you have with a person will have an impact. The lesson I learned in communication from this is that when you have the opportunity to talk to someone or spend time with them take it because you never know what they are going through and they may just need someone to talk to. If the cab driver would have told her no that he was not going through downtown he would've have never made the connection that he did with her. I think that this tells us that we should cherish every moment that we have to make a difference in someone's life.
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Brett Wilson
9/21/2016 07:37:26 pm
I agree this man spoke to the woman to take to places she wanted to go. Because there's sometimes you never know that there could be people that's really hurting and they want someone to talk to.
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Dylan Osborne
9/21/2016 10:42:14 pm
Heather, I like what you said in your reply every chance we have to talk to someone could be the one that changes their life.
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Alec Hou
9/22/2016 01:05:22 am
Heather, I agree that we should cherish every moment because anything could happen to us at any time. It's always great to make a difference in someone's life positively.
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Cade Rowland
9/22/2016 06:34:09 am
Yeah I agree with that a lot. If you don't talk to people then you have no idea what's going on in here life. Which means you can't make it better for them.
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Sincere Mosley
9/23/2016 10:12:52 am
I completely agree with you. You never know what people are going through and that really helped her
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Brett Wilson
9/21/2016 07:34:13 pm
I think that you should always talk to people that are looking sad like this older woman was, leaving her home to go to a nursing home. I also think that we can change peoples hearts because of what we do that is so kind for their last moments being out in the world or having to go somewhere and don't come back. I really thought the video was great because this man talk to woman to kind of cheer her up since it was her last time being out in the world.
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Heather Hinkley
9/21/2016 08:20:01 pm
Bret, I agree with you that we should talk to or listen to people that are upset. I also thought this video was amazing because they guy spent two hours just to make this woman's last day out in society good!
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Pedro Salvador
9/21/2016 11:14:10 pm
I also believe that the taxy driver made the old lady's last minute her best minutes In her life time.
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Cade Rowland
9/22/2016 06:35:36 am
Going somewhere you know you won't come back from must be hard and the driver did wgat was right.
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Madison Stephens
9/22/2016 08:13:21 am
I also think that we should help people when they're upset. The taxi driver cheered this women up and it was great to watch.
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Sincere Mosley
9/23/2016 10:14:11 am
I completely agree with you sometimes people just need someone to be with and listen to them
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anazzsa williams
9/21/2016 09:32:29 pm
You never know what someone else might be going through in there life. Its never a wrong time to make someones day because that might be the last joy they ever get to have. If the cab driver would've never shown her any type of care or generosity, she probably would have went into that nursing home with no hope. Always be the one to help put a smile on someones face.
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Dylan Osborne
9/21/2016 10:46:24 pm
Anazzsa, you make a great point when you say "Its never a wrong time to make someones day because that might be the last joy they ever get to have.". Take time out of your day to spread joy around the world if you need to.
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Marcos Salazar
9/21/2016 11:18:01 pm
Everyone deserves to have a great day. You should make someone's day, because it wouldn't just bring joy to them, it will also bring joy to you. You are right on that.
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Alec Hou
9/22/2016 01:07:48 am
Anazzsa, I like the way you think, "Always be the one to help put a smile on someone's face." It never hurts to make a person's day! I also agree that if there was no generosity, that woman would have no hope and be upset.
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Heather Hinkley
9/22/2016 08:58:16 am
Anazzsa, I agree with you that she would've went in with no hope if he would've just taken her to the nursing home without ever being kind to her. Also, I agree that we should take the opportunity to make someone's day!
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Zoey Hall
9/22/2016 09:19:29 am
I completely agree with you. You never know when you can make someones day with just a question or a smile. Being kind to everyone can give someone hope in their life by just the slightest moment.
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Dylan Osborne
9/21/2016 10:39:07 pm
The lesson of communication that I learned was that it doesn't matter who the person is, you can change someones life in the matter of a couple words, or in this case a cab ride. Moral of the story is that a simple act of kindness can change someone life if you allow it to. This story tells about moments because it makes us cherish every moment or interaction that we have everyday even if it is a simple response or a drawn out conversation with someone. If the cab driver would have not went to the door to get the elderly woman and drove off he never would have seen that lady and he wouldn't have impacted her life the way he did. The lesson that I take away is that you have the ability to change someones life or make their day better just by being kind.
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Marcos Salazar
9/21/2016 11:11:54 pm
You are right. No matter the person, they can change the way one views things and in this case it was a taxi driver. The lady changed his idea on life based on her life stories.
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Pedro Salvador
9/21/2016 11:13:04 pm
I agree with you Dylan about that it doesn't matter who it is that you can always make someone's life better then yesterday.
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Maria Rodriguez
9/21/2016 11:34:26 pm
I agree with what you are saying Dylan. You can always change a persons life by saying or doing something kind. Also remember to enjoy every little moment!
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Cole Mabry
9/22/2016 08:28:27 am
I know exactly what you are getting at, anything can happen by using some words to brighten someones day. Especially if it's their last.
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Faith Lucas
9/22/2016 08:36:36 am
Kindness can take you a long way in life. Many people don't realize that just brining respectful and kind to somebody can help make their day better. It's so easy to show compassion for certain situations, and I wish that more people understood that!
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Marcos Salazar
9/21/2016 11:09:16 pm
That everyone, everyone has a story to tell. The littlest detail can have a huge background. Maybe the moral of the story is to treasure every moment that you have before it comes to an end, before you reach your end. If he would have done what the other taxi drivers did, there wouldn't be such an amazing back story. That you should (again) treasure every moment either on your own, with friends and/or witht that special someone.
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Justin Morrison
9/23/2016 08:30:19 am
Everybody does have a story to tell! We have to learn to cherish and love every moment we have and spend as much time with people as possible.
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Pedro Salvador
9/21/2016 11:11:59 pm
The lesson I learned was that if you communicate you could let feelings out like the old lady did when she was telling the taxy can where she worked and where has gone. I believe the moral of the story is always listened to people and try to make their last breath their best breath of their life time. I also think think that story is telling us that moments are really important in life. I believe that if the taxy can did a wrong step the old lady would of not enjoy her last moments in this world.
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Maria Rodriguez
9/21/2016 11:37:35 pm
I also think that if the cab driver would have done something different he wouldn't have had the experience to spend time with the old lady and learn from her as well as enjoy that moment. It would have really changed the meaning of the story.
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Alejandra Leon
9/22/2016 05:22:24 am
By communicating, the old lady shared with the cab driver a few special moments in her life. I agree when you say you should try to make their last moments counts and the taxi driver did just that.
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Jesse Meraz
9/22/2016 07:26:46 am
Pedro I also think that if the taxi driver had done something differently, he wouldn't have been able to give the woman her last few happy moments in her life outside of the nursing home.
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Justin Morrison
9/23/2016 08:33:49 am
The moral is to listen to what people have to say to you at all times. It's a really good meaning and I think it's great!!
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Maria Rodriguez
9/21/2016 11:31:06 pm
I think that it's very important you understand what this lesson is trying to teach us, like many of my classmates said, you never know what other people are going through, you can certainly change a persons day by saying a couple of comforting words or doing something nice, just like the cab driver did without asking anything in return. Or at least by being a good listener and learning a few new things. This story also tells us that we should cherish every moment in life and enjoy each experience we get to live.
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Eric rRichard
9/22/2016 07:57:09 am
I believe sometimes all someone needs is a smile. Better yet a good talking too because we are social beings and we need someone to talk too.
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Zoey Hall
9/22/2016 09:18:01 am
Maria, I agree, we don't know what is going on in everyone's life and we have to treat everyone with kindness. We need to cherish every moment life gives us for what it's worth.
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Alejandra Leon
9/21/2016 11:43:33 pm
What I learned is that you should listen when someone else is talking. Enjoy the moment. You never know what you'll learn. It could be something about that person or something having to do with something else. If the taxi driver decided to do something differently he would've never experienced what he did. The elderly woman wouldn't have enjoyed the last moment she had outside the nursing home. And the taxi driver wouldn't have took away what he learned.
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Jesse Meraz
9/22/2016 07:24:51 am
I too think that the cab driver wouldn't have taken away his lesson to appreciate life more if he had done something differently.
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Zach
9/22/2016 07:28:07 am
You should always listen to stories that elders tell. it makes their works knowing that someone is kind enough to sit down and heat about what they've been through in life
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Alec Hou
9/22/2016 01:03:00 am
What lesson I learned in communication in this video is that when you have a chance to talk to someone, you should try to because you never know what someone is dealing with. The moral to this story is that an act of respect or kindness can make someone's day. This story tells us that every moment we have, we should cherish it because we don't know what could happen the next day or any time at all. If the cab driver did something differently, there would probably not be the same outcome as it was. The lesson I learned was that kindness is the best way to make someone's day.
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Alejandra Leon
9/22/2016 05:32:32 am
I think you're right when you say we should cherish every moment. Wether it be good or bad every moment impacts us in some way.
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Faith Lucas
9/22/2016 08:27:40 am
It's extremely important to be kind and respectful when talking to somebody. It seems as though there aren't many people that show true kindness to people that they don't know, so it usually catches people off guard when it happens. It': unexpected, but it could possibly make that person's day better.
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Tanner Holt
9/22/2016 08:35:03 am
Everything that happens in life leads to something bigger or better. We should cherish every moment like it is our last because you never know when it will be.
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Roxanne Lane
9/22/2016 10:26:41 am
I think what you said about talking to someone while we have the chance is so important. Many of us don't take advantage while we have the chance.
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Cade Rowland
9/22/2016 06:31:38 am
You can never tell what someone is going through in a particular time and should always be kind to them. Like in this instance she is going to the place where she will die soon. The cab driver switches off the meter because she shouldn't have to pay for that and he wants to make her feel the memories she once had.
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Zach
9/22/2016 07:26:39 am
That's the perfect easy to look at it. If he charged her then he'd practically be charging her to give her a ride to death.
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Eric Richard
9/22/2016 07:54:26 am
I agree you never know what people are going through. So to me just being nice can lift their spirit.
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Madison Stephens
9/22/2016 08:16:47 am
Everyone should be kind to each other because nobody knows what people are going through.
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Tanner Holt
9/22/2016 08:33:28 am
What you said makes perfect sense. You will never truly know what someone's going through unless you walk in their shoes.
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Jesse Meraz
9/22/2016 07:23:34 am
From this story I learned that with communication comes understanding. If you communicate well enough with a person you begin to understand them as a person. I think the moral to this story is that every life is complex, full of meaning, and that we are just small cogs in the large game of life. Every person to have walked on this Earth has had a complex life that had meaning and worth. I think this story tells us to appreciate our moment while we're here. Many people don't appreciate the moment until long after it has passed. One thing that could have gone different is that the cab driver could have gotten an uneasy feeling about where the woman lived, and he could've honked, waited, and then left after a few minutes. But instead he took the time out of his day to go to her door and walk her out to the cab. The lesson I take away from this story is to appreciate my moments here on Earth. I never know when life should end but I shouldn't leave this life regretting something or thinking about how I could've done something differently.
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Roxanne Lane
9/22/2016 10:25:39 am
I totally agree with what you said. Many of us do not realize how short life is and all the meaning that comes with it. We should really learn to appreciate each moment while we're living it rather than after the fact.
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Zach Condo
9/22/2016 07:25:15 am
The moral of the story is that you should have compassion in a situation like that. That driver could have been a jerk and took her the most direct route and charged her. the lesson I learned is that. sometimes it's better to take the long way and get to know someone, especially elders, then to take the short route and miss out on all the wonderful stories they have to tell it tells us to enjoy the little things. And make the most out of every situation. If he would have charged her for the two hour ride then he would've taken at least $100 from this old lady that has nothing left.
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Kaitlyn Huey
9/25/2016 04:32:21 pm
This is so true. You never know how you'll effect a persons life, so its always important to do your best to be polite and listen as well. As communicate with a person.
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Eric Richard
9/22/2016 07:52:00 am
I think it's all about helping others and when others are sad you should talk to them. you don,t know how their felling. the cab drive could've been like every one else and won't care about what that lady was going through but instead he did.
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Cole Mabry
9/22/2016 08:24:46 am
I see where you you are getting at but you need to explain more of what you are saying and start answering all the questions. I've noticed that every time you comment you'll only answer 2 of the 5 or 6 questions and that's not gonna get you a good grade. Also use correct punctuation an capitalize at the beginning of sentences.
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Madison Stephens
9/22/2016 08:15:45 am
The lesson I learned is that it's good to communicate with each others feelings. Everyone should take their moments and put them in a special place in their heart. If the cab driver would've showed no sign of feelings or "sympathy" she would've been really upset and lonely at the nursing home.
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Cole Mabry
9/22/2016 08:20:05 am
I believe the lesson of communication that was learned is that it doesn't matter who the person is, you can change someones life in the matter of a couple words or actions. The lesson is also the moral, that you can make anyone smile by just a couple of words or actions. It tells us that we need to treasure and live in ant moment cause there is no telling when your last will be. If he was like any other cab he would've honked waited and then left since the older lady was frail and could not carry her suitcase therefore it would've taken her a while to get there and the driver wouldn't of had the experience he had with her. Every moment should be treasured and lived to the fullest.
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Faith Lucas
9/22/2016 08:20:15 am
The video made me realize that every interaction you have is an opportunity to be kind. I believe that the moral of the story is that we are usually so caught up with everything that's going on in our own lives, that we don't stop to pay attention to anything else. It's important to be aware of what's going on and to be kind and understanding of different situations. Moments are so precious. You never know which ones will make an impact in your life and become important to you, so it's imperitave that you live every moment to the fullest. If the cab driver hadn't told the lady that going through downtown wasn't the shortest route, she might not have told him that she was going to hospice, and they would've just gone straight there. They wouldn't have driven around all night, and they wouldn't have shared the moment that impacted both of them. The lesson that I took away from this story is that it always pays off to be kind.
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Tanner Holt
9/22/2016 08:31:54 am
I realized that every word you speak has an impact on someone else's life. You should always speak to people the way you want to be spoken to. And don't ever be afraid to speak up when something's wrong.
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Zoey Hall
9/22/2016 09:16:17 am
This story has a lot behind it and I think anyone after reading this can realize how precious moments are. The cab driver could have not asked where he was taking her or why they were going to go downtown and the elderly women would have just went straight there. Moments can have a huge impact on someone's life: and by being kind you can experience a lot more of those moments. The lesson I take from this story is to never assume and to always be kind no matter who it is.
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Roxanne Lane
9/22/2016 10:24:12 am
Reading this story made me realize how big of an impact we can have on others just by doing something so small. If the cab driver wouldn't have gotten out and walked to the door to help the old woman then her last moments of her life would not have been as sweet as they were. I think we can all learn something from this and aim to really listen to others and appreciate everyday and enjoy life.
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Justin Morrison
9/23/2016 08:28:28 am
The lesson I learned in communication from this is that when you have the option to talk to someone take it because you never know what they are going through and they may just need someone to talk to.
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Sincere Mosley
9/23/2016 10:15:40 am
The taxi driver really helped that older lady. She was having a rough time and treated her nice. Sometimes people like that just need someone to be with and talk too
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Kaitlyn Huey
9/25/2016 04:34:23 pm
That's true. There are so many people treated poorly. I know when I get old I'd want someone to treat me just like the taxi driver did.
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Kaitlyn Huey
9/25/2016 04:38:20 pm
I believe that communication in this wasn't so much speaking as it was the importance of listening and having respect and kindness for others out there. The elderly woman in this story knew she didn't have long and wanted to spend her time living in her memories. The fact that the cab driver turned off the meter and drove all over town for her shows that he had heart, and you need heart if your going to communicate with a person. Without it it's just a meaningless conversation.
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Danny
9/27/2016 08:51:51 am
The story is kind of sad, the thought of someone not having family left and needing to move into a hospise puts a pretty uneasy thought in my head. I feel for the little old lady, having the good adventure she had with a stranger before she had to go was probably something the both of them will remember for the rest of their lives. When we communicate it isn't just small talk, sometimes we give little pieces of us away and that's the beauty of it. When you can talk about everything and nothing at the same time, re-live moments from your past. It's really what I live for. Learning to talk to people and open up to them is important.
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Emily Baker
10/12/2016 10:51:37 am
I agree Danny this story is kind of sad, not having any family left and needing to move into a nursing home and the last person on the outside she really talks to is a cab driver. It makes me want to reach out more.
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Emily Baker
10/12/2016 10:49:33 am
The lesson i learned that we all can impact someone's life. We just have to reach out to people like the cab driver he drove around for two hours hearing stories about some women's life who he didn't even know but when he finally dropped her off he realized that he was a part of her last moments on the outside world.
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