Martin Riskin Rewards A Good Deed

One afternoon while apartment hunting in New York, I decided to take a break and have a cup of coffee and a muffin at a corner café. One of my favorite things to do is watch people. So I sat at the window, sipped my coffee and watched the world walk by. I was having a wonderful time, when I noticed an older gentleman at the corner trying to hail a cab. Two things struck me. He was trying to catch a cab from the wrong side of the street. Cabs were traveling north on the east side of the street. He was on the west side. There was no way they’d see him in time, let alone cross three lanes of traffic to stop for him. The second thing I noticed was that his head was tilted to one side as if he was cradling a phone between his ear and shoulder. When he turned, however, I saw no phone. He had a problem with his neck and seemed to be in a lot of pain. Watching him made me think how terrible and frightening it must be to be old and alone in a big city.

The more I watched him try unsuccessfully to get a cab the sorrier I felt for him. Then I realized, hey wait a minute, he doesn’t have to be alone. I can help him. I asked the women next to me to watch my coffee and I went outside and introduced myself. I told him we’d have a better chance of getting a cab if two people were waving. I also suggested we cross the street. He was so appreciative. Before he got in the cab he gave me a beautiful pen and asked if he could take me to lunch sometime to properly thank me. He called me a few days later and we talked for a while about our lives. When I mentioned that I had just moved to the city and felt alone and like a fish out of water, he gave me advise about everything from real estate, to jobs, to great restaurants for me to experience.

Since that day we met, he’s become like a grandfather to me. He is wise and generous and caring. I might have helped him catch a cab but he has helped me far more than he’ll ever know. He has given me the love of a true friend. And neither one of us is alone.

- Debbie Shannon