janasthinkingplace - the b side

Dana I took this for you today! ;)

I rarely reblog things, but this made me cry. Whether it’s true or not, it’s a beautiful story. 

blanddiva11:

A sweet lesson on patience. 

A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up 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 to be 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.

Need a good cry? Read this. It’s beautiful.

(Source: mishalmoorebloggyblog)

jetpac-app:

Cute Little Trailers, photo courtesy of Aimee Ray

valueplus:

accidentalcharm:

I am a girl who likes her drink.  And thus I end up with lots and lots of empty bottles in the recycling bin every week.  I have often thought there must be something I can do all these but what?

Candlestick holder?  Vase for a measly rose?  Join a jug band?

Kinda lame (jug band excluded).  If only I could just get rid of that stupid, narrow neck, I would be able to put it to such good use.  After trying to smash the neck off a couple times (yeah, don’t do that), I started to explore my glass cutting options.  After some poking around, I was delighted to find out that I wouldn’t have to invest in pricey glass cutting equipment after all!  I didn’t even have to go to the store to pick up any supplies.  String?  Nail polish remover?  Fire?  In spades at Casa del Sandra.  And whole process is so quick and easy I don’t know why I didn’t know about this a lot sooner.

Now before I go on any further you have to promise me you’re going to be super careful.  K?  SUPER DUPER CAREFUL.  Sharp glass, highly inflammable liquids, very hot fire?   There are only about eleventy billion things that could go wrong. Do this on the kitchen or bathroom with a sink or fire extinguisher nearby.  Pay close attention, don’t be lazy and you should be good and still have a roof over your head at the end.

Now let’s get to it.  First, you will need:

1. An empty liquor bottle you have washed out thoroughly.
2. A bucket full of cold water
3. Butcher’s twine
4. Nail polish remover WITH acetone (please make sure you don’t get non-acetone polish remover meant for fake nails)
5. Sand paper
6. Lighter or match

STEP ONE: Wind the butcher’s twine around the bottle where you want the cut twice.  Tie off and cut excess string.

STEP TWO: Take the string off of the bottle and place in a little bowl or cup full of the acetone nail polish remover.  Make sure it gets nice and saturated with the stuff.  Then fasten the string back on the bottle just like you had it before. 

—->ACHTUNG<—   Get a paper towel or dishcloth and wipe off any nail polish remover that might have dripped down the bottle.  THEN wash and dry your hands thoroughly.  I mean it, Mister. 

STEP THREE:  Now.  Here comes the fun/scary part.  Hold the bottom of the bottle with one hand and light the string with other. 

STEP FOUR: Turn the bottle on its side and slowly rotate it around to make sure you distribute the heat evenly. Once you see the fire is about to burn out (about 10-15 seconds), quickly dunk it (top first) into the bucket full of cold water.  The fire should be completely extinguished and you will hear a pop!  When you pull the bottle out of the bucket, the top half should be gone!  Tada!

 

(If it’s not that probably means you didn’t let the string burn long enough.  Just try again.)

WAAAAAAIT!  You’re not done just yet.  Those newly formed edges are really, really sharp.  You don’t want to end up in the ER and get stitches after all that. 

STEP FIVE: Gotta sand those babies down.

Ahh, much better. 

OK.  NOW YOU ARE DONE.  So easy and gratifying, no?  Look at that spiffy new vase, planter, cup, thingy holder you made.

Makes a great last-minute gift.  People will think you are magic.  And don’t you go throwing another glass bottle away again or Captain Planet will cry a thousand tears.

this looks terrifying but lots of fun also. could be good to make drinking glasses from beer bottles that have the labels printed on the glass, rather than a paper label glued on