Eleven years ago, my first job in RI was for a non profit organization in Providence. I had to drive from Newport to "the city" every day (if you lived in RI, you would know that very few people venture over the bridges every day but being from NJ, that commute was a piece of cake). I had to park in a pay lot where you were supposed to leave your keys with the attendant. The less expensive lot filled quickly but being a full-time grad student and a full time, not for profit employee, I was barely able to pay even the cheapest lot. Anyway, one day it was raining, cold and miserable out. I was running into Dunkin Donuts to grab a coffee before trying to park in my usual lot. I figured the parking attendant must be cold and miserable as his post was outside, no shelter in sight, so I picked him up a coffee.
As I rolled in, spaces were tight and I was having trouble squeezing into the spot (the parking attendant - barley 18 - could tell I was struggling. In a thick Vietnamese accent, he told me to just leave it, he'd park it. Totally relieved, I handed him the coffee, he looked utterly shocked, and barely stammered a thanks as I ran for the office doors. When I came out at the end of the day, the sun was shining and it had turned into a beautiful day. I headed toward my car when I saw the parking attendant - which was odd because he usually left the keys under the floor mat since his day ended at four and mine at 5. I thought something must be wrong with my car. Shyly, he approached me and said, "Hi. My name is Cabbie. I didn't really get to thank you for the car so I wanted to be here when you got out. So, thanks." And then he took off.
That's how our friendship started. I began to realize that no matter how late I was running or how full the lots were, cabbie always had a spot for me - an easy spot to pull in and out of. If I didn't have cash on hand, he knew I was good for it and let me pay double the next day. He was interested in what I was learning at school, I was interested in how he emigrated Vietnam and landed in RI. The 2 years that I had that job, every morning started with a big smile from him and a greeting, "hello Ms. Sunshine" (his nickname for me. It was a nice way to go through the week.
After 2 years, I graduated and found a new job - a few blocks from my old job and parking lot. My new job came with a parking space so my time with Cabbie came to an end. I no longer had a reason to be on that remote part of town. He congratulated me on my new job, I wished him all the best. Flash forward 7 years to this afternoon...
...I was having a bad day. Was 15 minutes into my 90 minute commute when I realized I left my blackberry at home. I had to go back and get it. Annoying. I arrived at the office at 7 am to find my computer inoperable. Annoying. By noon, I had called the computer help line 3 times to no avail. Annoying. I decided to drive back the 90 minutes from where I came to go to tour Western, MA office and try to use the computer there. Not looking forward to driving through the rain. Annoying. On my way to my car, a truck sped by spraying me with water. Annoying.
Then, out of the distance, I heard, "Hello, Ms. Sunshine!" I looked up to find Cabbie waving frantically. He remembered me! I was touched. He rushed over. We exchanged greetings. He graduated college, was going for a job interview. I was thrilled for him. He was ecstatic that I was married and asked about "the lucky guy". His kindness and the mere fact that he remembered me wanted to make me cry.
I said, "of all the people you see come and go every day, Cabbie, you just made my day by remembering me. I really needed your positive attitude today and here you are." He looked down shyly and said, "you brought me coffee once, on the day after my sister passed away. You didn't know it but it was the kind of positive thing I needed then."
People are amazing and I am fortunate to have so many wonderful encounters with unbelievable people who keep life in perspective for me.
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