May 23 Reblogged
As seen on Facebook. (posted by Homestead Survival)
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.
/gross sobbing :(
ALL MY FEELINGS
May 07 Reblogged
Myth of the Hymen, dodsonandross.com
One of the reasons I wanted to share this was to show the sexualized violence around language of female sexuality. There is no “breaking,” “popping” or otherwise of the hymen— and you don’t lose it, it stays with you your whole life!
So if you’re worried about having penetrative sex for the first time because you think “breaking the hymen” will hurt—relax!
- Use PLENTY of lube (water based with condoms!), even if you think you don’t need it.
- Use condoms, dental dams, or latex gloves (unless you have an allergy to latex, then use non-latex alternatives) with appropriate (Water-based) lube. I always try to get lube without glycerin or parabens because I have sensitive skin and am prone to yeast infections.
- Go SLOWLY and listen to what your body is telling you.
- Masturbate and get comfortable with your own body and sex will be a lot better than if you have no idea what gets you off.
- Don’t rush into it the first time (or even the first few times).
- Sex should be pleasurable. Take your time and experiment with fingers, tongues, and toys.
- Use lube (I cannot stress this enough!)
- Relax and have fun with your partner. Otherwise, what’s the point of having sex?
*not only women have vaginas or penetrative sex
(Source: feministsextoys)
Apr 06 Reblogged
“Continuing to stay strong in the face of intense pain, the Martin family reached out to us and shared some exclusive family photos taken 9 days before Trayvon’s death on February 17, 2012.
Out celebrating his mother’s birthday, we see the 6’3 teenager enjoying one of the final moments with his family.
We see Trayvon horseback riding, playfully hugging his little cousins at dinner and finally posing in a family photo.
Read more: http://globalgrind.com/node/829140#ixzz1qlSM6CqW”
I just…why are we still acting like his family having to prove he’s human is not about racism?
^^ Yeah. Still, these pictures made me well up. He was just a kid, a normal teenage boy, and the right-wing media is trying to paint him as this evil drug dealing gangster. George Zimmerman is still free. He’s not awaiting trial or out on bond before a trial or anything. He’s just hanging out knocking back beers or something, and this kid is dead because of him. -Jess
Jan 27 Reblogged
Justice for Cassandra Elaine McJennett →
Not fluff-related, but:
This is important because this girl is being repeatedly terrorized in a town that seems to turn a blind eye to bullying and assault. Cassandra was lured into a car, beaten by people hiding in the back seat, and then thrown from the slow-moving vehicle. Three people are responsible for this crime - the boy who lured her (age 16), the driver (age 18), and the girl who beat her (age 16). All three should be charged to the fullest extent of the law (Attempted murder, assault battery). Instead, girl was released to her mother’s custody (who states she “doesn’t want to get in the middle”) and not held…due to her age. This is an unconscionable act, by a 16 year old juvenile who had (a year prior) told Cassandra’s mother “You are going to find her beaten to death at the side of the road”. This proves premeditation and harsh prosecution MUST happen swiftly to prevent further injury, or worse.
I haven’t lived in LZ for 7 years, but when I went to school there I was bullied every day for about 4 years and know other people with similar experiences. When I tried to tell people what happened to me, I got called a liar or told I deserved it for being an “easy target” (ie, an awkward and frightened depressive) and in so many other ways told to shut up. You have no idea how badly that fucks you up until it happens to you. That things are WORSE 7 years later is disgusting. This girl deserves justice for what was done to her. The people who assaulted her are old enough to know better. If they are allowed to get away with this once, then they’ll know they can get away with it again.