Methinks Helen is pretty shabby.

I am crying right now. I cannot stop. Thanks for this Dooce. For something happy I just found this site that is giving away $570 worth of Kate Spade - www.shoppingandinfo.com check the right side bar for how to enter

Yup, it's been replaced with a domain squatter. Anybody have a mirror?

Really, Dooce? Of course, the message is a wonderful one, but the piece...? Pablum. I'd rather read your wonderful work, by far.

here's something eery. I'm reading this and Stan Ridgway's "Drive, She Said" just came on the radio.

I volunteered to go to a hospice this past Valentines Day to pass out flowers to the residents there. I specifically remember this one poor, frail lady exclaim "This is from my son! He sent me a rose!", and all I could do was nod my head, give her a hug, and choke back tears. The rest of the day I just tried to hold it together long enough to visit every single resident there in hopes that I was going to make their day that much brighter.

All it takes is a few hours and a few flowers, and I guarantee you will feel all the better for it.

Thank you for posting this. My father died in hospice last November. We had experiences like this with him and others every day. I'm not a people person by any means, but every once in a while a story comes along that makes me rethink my position. This is one of them.

My heart must be blackening. I thought it was a lovely story, but I was nowhere near tears.

Yeah, it's kind of crap. Badly written, and a cliche. The cabbie, viewing the world through his fares.

Invented schmaltz.

First let me say, I read your blog all the time and even when I'm having the crappiest day your site always makes me laugh to the point of peeing.

Second. My husband's grandfather passed away the 20th of this month. I live in South Florida, and the whole drive up there to where they lived was the longest drive of my life even though I've driven it about 40 times. To know that there are so many bitter people in the world who think that everyone owes them something is rediculous. My grandfather died of a brain tumor and was so sick when he died that he was almost unrecognizable at his funeral. My husband's grandfather was an amazing man. Always had fun stories and was so grumpy that if he cracked a smile you laughed for hours. In July he had to have surgery on his leg because of an anurysm (sp?) and in the end almost died as well as lost the bottom left leg. After leaving Lower Alabama and coming back to South Florida it makes you wonder how all the good people pass and the snobby nasty bitches live to be 90.

I babbled. But anyways thanks for posting the story. Everyone needs a good cry :). Especially when you work for some brazilians and they think you're retarded for crying at work :).

I never know if I'm gonna laugh or cry with a visit to Dooce but either way I am always a satisfied reader! Thanks so much Heather!

Whether the story is fiction or not is irrelevant. The lesson is important.

I learned this at my 10-yr high school reunion. I was kind of shy in school. I had a few close friends, but I really didn't think of myself as standing out in any way at all. I felt pretty average and ordinary.

At my 10-yr reunion, I recognized a guy who'd been in a few of my classes, but who I wasn't super-close to in school. I said hi to him, and said something like "I don't know if you remember me..." He said, "Remember you? I named my daughter after you." Huh?? He said that I was always smiling and friendly and kind to him, and he never forgot that.

I totally thought he was B.S.ing me, but he called his wife over and, without introducing us, asked her to tell me who their daughter was named after... I got chills.

The truth is that an action that seems small or inconsequential to us can be so important, maybe even life-changing, for someone else. And the reality is, we may not even know it at the time.

Heather,

Being a Memphis girl like me, you'll appreciate this. My great grandfather used to drive a cab in Memphis and told the story about a time when someone asked to drive him to "the bridge." When they got there, the man got out and gave my great-grandfather a 50-dollar bill. Realizing the man was planning on jumping, my great-grandfather just put it in his pocket. When the man asked for change, Grandpa said, "Where you're heading, you won't need change," and the man stopped, sat back down and said, "Well, I don't want to go if it costs that much to get there." They talked, he didn't jump. Life went on, but that stuff just kind of stays with you...

Oh boy. Not sure if it is your bad timing for posting this today or mine for reading it. Just last night I was telling my husband that I think I need to get some therapy because I feel lonely, depressed and affraid of getting old (er). I have no children, no family in this country and, because of who knows what hang-ups and issues, practically no friends. I am having some serious anxiety about ending up old, sick and alone. Good thing I'm at work and not home alone bec. I would be sobbing for the rest of the afternoon.

I read this post yesterday and had a client this morning whose husband is in hospice care. She told me that he will day any day, but that they had a really good ride together.

I sat quietly with her and whispered this story, and ended saying it was the most important thing the writer had ever done. We were both weepy but she was moved and appreciated that I took the time to connect with her in that way. Thank you for posting something so lovely.

Uh, that didn't upset me at all — and usually I *love* heart-wrenching stories about human kindness.

Have I turned into a cold-hearted snake?

Fact, fiction, doesn't matter. Been having a crappy week and this gave me the kick in the pants I needed. Time to get back to basics...
"I wondered why somebody didn't do something. Then I realized, I am somebody"....

Wow, that totally made me cry... I probably would've done the exact same thing the cab driver had done. But yeah, what he said was SO true.

I have to agree with some of the comments (and I haven't read them all) that this story was a bit too sweet sounding to make me believe it is 100% accurate. But,I can completely buy the sentiment of it . I actually got misty at the "reached over to turn off the meter" mark.

It makes me think of alot of things. I work at a place where I deal with the public- alot- and at times it can wear me down. But, I've had some amazing moments with the customers especially (but not only) the older customers who have shared some incredibly interesting tales with me. I know some of them enjoyed the extra time spent chatting. I've been told "you've made my day" a few times and in those moments it's my day that gets made. Still, there are times I think I could have a little (alot?)more patience.

Mostly though the story makes me think of my father who passed away of lung cancer at the age of 67, 5 years ago. I remember one day I was sitting with him when he was still strong enough to be at home, sitting in his own chair, swaying to the jazz music he loved to listen to. He got this look on his face and that very stare described in the story so I asked him if everthing was okay. He told me the music was hard to hear. It reminded him of happier, healthier times. Grooving, laughing, dancing with his friends. Growing up and living life. It really struck me.

Talk about the value of living each moment. We'll never know when that rythmn we're swaying to will change its beat. And sometimes, a simple act of kindness (whether we're giving or receiving it)is all it takes to lift someone's spirit which is something I'm sure we could all use from time to time.

The commenters that leave such catty remarks on a story as peaceful as this, would be the people that would leave their ailing parents on the doorstep of a hospice without so much of a backwards glance. They simply suck.

Wow. People feel the need to comment in a negative fashion...

I guess your readers are conditioned to think your blog revolves around the great posts. But great posts are often wrapped up in what others may call the small ones.

Awesome Story!

Thank you for the link. I needed that really really badly. It may be fake, but it certainly makes you think that how we act impacts others, both good and bad.

I forgot to say... and often, I do succeed.

I tried reading this to my boyfriend and starting blubbering half way through; he started laughing so I threw a book at his head. He appreciated it in the end (the story, not the book in the face).

Thank you for sharing.

I'm disappointed in you, Dooce. This is mushy nonsense which beggars belief. Not to mention the concept of the "web of love" (and the link to make monthly credit card donations of $1000!!!) which simply makes me gag! I'm surprised there isn't a disclaimer at the bottom asking me to forward it to 50 "friends" or risk being responsible for the death of several very cute puppies.

LyKe oMG d00ce i'M cRyiNg!!1!!1!!

SIKE.
i didn't have to shed any tears to appreciate the message the story carried. good find :]

I don't think it's fake. We're so conditioned to expect that the important moments in our life will be dramatic or come with some kind of announcement, but usually they're not. I loved that story. We can make such a difference to each others lives if we just slow down and listen.

Months ago, during the primaries, I took my almost 5 year old to our local Bookstar. As per usual, she dragged me to the children's section, picked out a book for us to read together and headed for the tiny wooden tables and chairs there. Another mother and child were already there, and an old lady who had to be in her 80's who was reading Human Smoke.

After a while, the old lady started talking to me about her book and asked whether or not I'd read it. She told me that she was Jewish, originally from the East Coast and that she'd lived through the second world war. She had some interesting things to say about it, but that's not the point of the story. We got to talking about politicians and she came right out and asked me who I'd like to vote for in the presidential election. I told her I wasn't sure, because at the time I still kinda liked Hilary Clinton but she cut off my explanation and told me she was voting for Barack Obama.

She said she voted for Bush the first time around, then didn't vote at all last time. She told me she'd been Republican for most of her life, but she'd had more time to think about things since her husband died. She told me that she'd been diagnosed with cancer and her main goal was to make it to November to vote for Obama because it was going to be her last vote and she wanted to make it count. That was really profound for me, and she went on to talk about why.. But that's the statement that really stuck with me. For that old lady, her one vote in this election is her last ditch chance to leave a bigger legacy for her great-grandchildren. I think that's amazing.

Sorry for writing such an essay, but that encounter really touched me.

I strongly believe in kharma with the attitude "What goes around comes around." Having driven crappy cars in college and ended up stranded on the side of the road countless times, I was lucky enough to always have someone help. (And this was before there were cell phones!).

I can't tell you how many times I have helped out strangers as my way of "paying it forward". But my favorite story was the time I let a single-mother use my AAA service when she was stuck at a gas station at night because her headlights had burnt out a fuse. She couldn't get home in the dark, had two teenage kids with her and didn't have any money to get help. Because I called AAA for her on my membership, a nice repairman towed her car home in the dark to safety.

Before moving to the Netherlands from the US, she and her kids came to our farewell party.

Count me in the category of folks who teared up a bit. I don't know if the story is true, but I hope it is. There have been a number of complete strangers out there who have taken a moment to stop and say something or do something that really changed my life, and they never even knew it. I only hope that one day I will do the same... although, I'll never know it.

Love the obvious message of this, to understand that your just-another-day attitude could extinct someone else's one-of-the-best-days if you're not careful.. reminding us to see an opportunity to make someone's life better and act on it.

Also makes you think about where you'd go if you were in the woman's position. What would you like to see? What memories would it stir up for you? How is the way you're living now creating fond memories you'll have someday?

Thanks Heather.

That is an amazing story. I think I'll slow down a little tomorrow and ... breathe, and enjoy the moment.

Wow. Really. Wow. That is some amazing literally expression. I feel sad.

I don't even care if this is fiction or non-fiction. It's an amazing story.

Ps - Per your next post about Leta. Get thee to Whole Foods and buy some Bach's Kid's Rescue Remedy. Give her some before bedtime, it really helps.

Holy crap, best story I read in a LONG time.

Ha ha... just go away.. ha.. clever...

But no...

The drivers ed course I'll never forget.

Teacher took us into the hood. As in the "HOOD" hood (hello Englewood, IL). Where 3 white kids in a car shouldn't be. She stopped to get her "hair did" and that took an awesome 2 hours while 3 white kids were locked in the car with the window cracked like we were dogs.

Then for the final test she told me to do a "turn about". I didn't know what the fuck she was talking about (it was a 3 point turn).

And because of her made up drivers' ed shit language I failed the test and had to wait longer to get my license.

Yes I did wish a chemical burn on her.

Ah yes 1987 when you could leave 3 white kids in the car while getting your hair did. Now you'd get arrested.

I will share this amazing vignette with our hospital bioethics committee. We often lose sight of the full lives our patients have led prior to reaching the end of life. Thank you

Aaaand... now I'm all soggy. Damn you Heather B. Armstrong for making me feel feelings this morning.

Even if it is fiction, it's a touching story. Do unto others...