I arrived at the address & honked. After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked. "Just a minute", answered a frail elderly voice. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in 90’s stood before me, wearing a pillbox hat with a veil, like out of 1940 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. ‘Would you carry my bag to the car?’ she said. I took the bag to the cab and then took the woman to the cab. She kept thanking me for my kindness. ‘Oh you are such a good boy’, she said. When we got in the cab she gave me an address and said "Could you drive through downtown?’ "Its not the shortest way", I answered quickly.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. "I don’t have any family left and the doctor says I don’t have very long". I quietly reached over & shut off the meter. For next two hours we drove thru the city. She showed me the building where she had worked earlier and the neighbourhood where she had stayed with her husband after marriage and many such memories.

At the first hint of sunlight she said I am tired and let’s go now. We drove in silence to the address she gave me. This was a small convalescent home. Two orderlies came to the cab. They were very solicitous. They must have been expecting her. They took her bag and put the woman in a wheel chair. ‘How much do I owe you?" she asked. ‘Nothing’, I said. "You have to make a living’, she answered. ‘There are other passengers’, I responded. Almost without thinking I bent over & gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly & said "You gave an old woman a little moment of joy and Thank you". I squeezed her hand and walked into the dim morning.

On a quick review I don’t think 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. So be alert not to lose such opportunities of sharing love in life.