Happy Memorial Day!!

Happy Memorial Day! A much needed 3 day weekend for most!

Beautiful weather = Pool time! I know summer is a few more weeks away still, but it sure feels like summer outside. I spent the day relaxing at the pool (along with everyone else!) Soaking up the sun and taking the occasional dip in the pool to cool off.

I hope everyone had a safe holiday weekend and remember a little PSA... "Click it, or ticket" :)

The Cab Ride

I came across this story in an email and it led me to tear up. I have no idea why, it's just so sweet and really puts life into perspective...a feel good story!



The Cab Ride

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 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 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, 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. '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.

.

A Cops Life

You wonder why he pulled you over and gave you a ticket for speeding
He just worked an accident where poeple died because they were going to fast
_________________________

You wonder why that cop was so mean
He just got done working a case where a drunk driver killed a kid
____________________________________________

You work for 8 hours
He works for up to 18 hours
_________________________

You drink hot coffee to stay awake.
The cold rain in the middle of the nite keeps him awake.
__________________________

You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
He goes into work still hurt and sore from the guy he had to fight the night before
__________________________

You drink your coffee on your way to the mall.
He spills his as he runs code to a traffic crash with kids trapped inside
__________________________

You make sure you’re cell phone is in your pocket before you leave the house.
He makes sure his guns is clean and fully loaded and his vest is tight
__________________________

You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren’t with you.
He watches his buddy get shot at, and wounded in front of him.
__________________________

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He walks down the highway looking for body parts from a traffic crash
_________________________

You complain about how hot it is.
He wears fifty pounds of gear and a bullet proof vest in the middle of July and still runs around chasing crack heads
__________________________

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He runs out before he gets his food to respond to an armed robbery.
__________________________

You get out of bed in the morning and take your time getting ready.
He gets called out of bed at 2 am after working 12 hours and has to be into work asap for a traffic homicide
__________________________

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He holds the hair of some college girl while shes puking in the back of his patrol car
__________________________

You’re angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
His shift ended 4 hours ago and theres no end in sight
__________________________

You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
He can’t make any plans because on his off days he still gets called back into work
__________________________

You yell and scream at the squad car that just past you beacuse they slowed you down.
He’s in the driver seat of the squad car, going to cut somebody out of their car only to find out that their dead when he gets there.
__________________________

You roll your eyes when a baby cries in public
He picks up a dead child in his arms and prays that it was crying
__________________________

You criticize your police dept and say they’re never there quick enough.
He blasts the siren while the person in front of him refuses to move while talking on their cell phone and doing their makeup.
__________________________

You hear the jokes about fallen officers and say they should have known better.
He is a hero and runs into situations when everyone else is running away in order to make sure no one else gets hurt and lose’s his life doing it

__________________________

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don’t.
He would take a bullet for his buddy without question
__________________________

You sit there and judge him, saying that its a waste of money to have them around.
Yet as soon as you need help he is there

Currently...

Excited for... My trip home in June!

Worried... about logging worked hours in our new computer system at work.

Creating.... my blog, very time consuming

Loving... my husband :)

Hating... the cold/rainy weather this week (c'mon it's May!)

Wondering... If the weather is really going to be severe tonight?

Craving... something sweet...candy maybe?

Hoping... NO tornados overnight!

Watching.... DVR'd shows

Listening... to the rain hit the window

Looking forward to... 1/2 days my next few Saturday's at work

My First Blog!

So I have been wanting to start a blog now for quite some time! I have followed many scrapbook blogs...mainly for inspiration, but also I find it a great way of keeping in touch with friends both near and far. This is my blog, it may not be perfect, but it is mine...so here we go!