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This might seem totally off-topic to the site, but unexpected acts of kindness are exactly the sort of moments, I think, that would have stood out to the minds of Voltaire, or D'Alembert, or Diderot.

I was caught in a thunderstorm today coming out of the grocery store with a friend. I should mention that I'm in New York City(in general, a far friendlier place than non-New Yorkers would ever imagine) -- and this was not just any thunderstorm ... this was destined to build into one of those vengeance-from-heaven type of storms. Sudden darkness, massive bursts of thunder, horizontal rain, and me with no umbrella (of course). We were fortunate to get a cab quickly and before it got too bad (no small feat in the pouring rain). The cab dropped my friend first, and by the time we reached my building the rain was an absolutely brutal, impervious sheet of water.

Then, as I was getting ready to get out, the taxi driver offered me his umbrella. He was just going to give me his umbrella. Of course, at some point in the day, he would also have to step out into the rain ... and nevermind that I was one of dozens of fares he'd have that day and he'd never see me again ... but he urged me to please take it.

I didn't take it -- the rain was so hard that I'd have gotten soaked anyway, and left him without an umbrella for no good reason. But, that's not the point.

I don't think that's the image many people have of NY cab drivers, or New Yorkers in general, and so I thought it worth a mention. Not a big thing -- but an important one nonetheless. Any gesture of unselfish kindness (particularly when directed spontaneously to a total stranger) is important. Even in it's smallest form, it's heroic, isn't it?

So thanks, Mr. Taxi Driver, wherever you are, for a moment of Englightenment in a dark and stormy day.

Posted by Stephanie

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