I still can't quite believe this happened today

[Tangerine LaBamba]

I hailed a cab, and when one pulled over, the driver and I recognized each other. He's driven me before, and we always talked politics - he's from Ethiopia, a naturalized citizen, and he voted for Obama, hates Fuckface.

He patted the front seat, so I got in and sat beside him. We shook hands and were just delighted to see each other, the first time since the election.

Then he put his finger to his lips and said "Shhhhhhhh."

He turned up the radio.

It was President Obama's town meeting in Florida earlier today.

We rode, both of us silent, listening to our President carry on his town meeting.

We didn't speak until it was over, probably twenty minutes. Not a word.

A man from the other side of the world and a woman from America were listening to the President of the United States.

It wasn't a declaration of war, we hadn't been attacked, no national tragedy had befallen us. It was just our President, talking to people.

I still can't believe I took that magical cab ride today.

[babylonsister]

1. Great story! Thanks for sharing! nt

[Diane R]

2. I love your story.

[Cha]

3. What a beautiful story..

The Timing!

[EraOfResponsibility]

4. kicked and rec'd

thanks!

[Raine1967]

5. That is beautiful.

These are the kind of stories I have longed to hear for 8 long years.

[DKRC]

6. K&R! Great story! nt

[NMDemDist2]

7. well, it didn't make me laugh, but this'll do Bamba

this will do.

:D

PS, don't you live in DC???

we may need to schedule a meetup this fall, I'm planning a trip.

[tosh]

8. Nice. I'm glad you told your story here.

[Hope And Change]

9. A BIG K & R!

[Barack_America]

10. That's a very nice story. K&R.

[NanceGreggs]

11. Lovely story!

:patriot:

[countingbluecars]

12. Thank you for sharing

your wonderful story.

[City Lights]

13. Thanks for sharing your wonderful story.

:-)

Recommended.

[glitch]

14. Tears! Thank you for sharing that story, beautifully written. nt

[Doremus]

15. I love moments like that. They sneak up and leave you in awe. n/t

[NYC_SKP]

16. I miss cab rides...

Back in the day, half of them were Checker cabs (remember those?).

I miss the cabs, I miss the drivers, I miss the way they drive up and down the avenues without lanes.

Or did they fuck that up over the years like they did 42nd street?

[Gregorian]

17. I had two encounters like that recently. Stunningly beautiful.

I love it! It brings warmth to my heart. I know how you felt. A togetherness. An understanding. Friendship. Hope.

What a gift.


Hey, I've got to tell someone. My 84 year old dad called me the other day and said he had just planted two Obamegranate trees.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

39. far out, Gregorian!

I love it!! Obamegranate trees--how cute!!

My hunn doesn't like Obama :( (but I think he's open enough to change his opinion, once he sees enough for himself; and if he doesn't drink his fundy brother's kool-aid)
But his 84 year old dad and 77 year old mom LOVE Obama!!

[Gregorian]

44. My folks are chronic hard core political junkies.

Best of luck to you on your quest to open your partner's eyes. I cannot imagine how that must be. But it would be fantastic to have that in common rather than a difference.

[crikkett]

60. Hi Gregorian!

It's good to see your name.
Don't things feel different now... Light and Day.
I hope you're happy and well!

(me)

[Gregorian]

62. Hi!

Yes, I'm back in California. Working on a property I bought in Mendocino. Phew. Over a year without power. I'm sitting here right now going over architecture plans. I'm building a rather cool steel house.

But the greatest thing is what you are mentioning. So much hope. I just got off the phone with Amnesty International, making my yearly donation. The guy on the other end of the line called Obama a liberal in centrist clothing. haha.


:)

[TheEuclideanOne]

64. I know a good divorce attorney

Give him a few weeks to come around and change his opinion. If not..... (just saying)

[calimary]

61. LOVE hearing this stuff!

Testimonials from The People. We spoke at the polls. We're not through speaking yet!

[Spazito]

18. Wow, reading your OP gave me shivers down my back...

what a wonderful OP, thank you so much for posting it, it is much appreciated!

"A man from the other side of the world and a woman from America were listening to the President of the United States.

It wasn't a declaration of war, we hadn't been attacked, no national tragedy had befallen us. It was just our President, talking to people."

Wow, if that doesn't say it all in two sentences.

Recommended.

[blaze]

19. Magical cab ride. :)

Wonderfully told.

Thanks!

[CrispyQ]

20. A wonderful moment of bonding with a fellow human inhabitant on this wonderful ride called Earth.

Thanks, Tange, for the inspiring story!

[Fire1]

21. It's a beautiful thing, isn't it?

[JuniperLea]

22. Excuse me... I must have something in my eye...

Dammit! I thought I was all finished with the waterworks! Then Obama went and hugged that homeless lady, now my pal TLB tells a tale of personal international peace conferencing!

Gotta love it!

The world is watching us, but not with disgust anymore! It's a beautiful day!

[BrklynLiberal]

23. Fantastic story!! So glad you shared it.

[jhain]

24. Lovely.......

So lovely..............
finally...............

[AzDar]

25. Very cool! The world, I daresay, is a a better place since Jan. 20, 2009!

:patriot:

[Raster]

26. Thank you for sharing!!!

:toast:

[Delphinus]

27. How lovely!

I can feel the magic of the moment. Thank you for sharing.

[Dystopian]

28. KandR

:loveya:

peace~

[Mira]

29. That's wonderful. I kick and recommend to celebrate the changes that are now

trickling into our daily lives.
Changes have come.
Thanks for letting us take part in your magical cab ride.

[politicasista]

30. Kick

Nice story. :kick:

[Laelth]

31. It is, indeed, a joy to finally WANT to listen to the President. n/t

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[AwakeAtLast]

32. The first of many more great stories to come as a result of this administration!

Thanks for sharing - I'm a little teary! <snif>

[Metta]

33. Touching, in this time of great suffering.

Thanks for posting. :toast:

[elleng]

34. Great story!

I had similar experiences when I worked downtown DC; lots of cabbies born elsewhere, and great learning experiences.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

35. Thank you for sharing that story! Makes me happy! nt

[GoddessOfGuinness]

36. Fantastic!

I'm glad you connected! :hi::hug:

[BlancheSplanchnik]

37. Brrrrrr! Goosebumps!!

:)

[shireen]

38. thanks for sharing that story.

i love hearing these anecdotes. It's so cool ... :)

[firedupdem]

40. Isn't it wonderful? What a great story! Last night my household

fell silent while the President was on. Even my 15 yr old seemed to try and listen without texting! It's a beautful thing!

[Ilsa]

41. "...and he voted for Obama, hates Fuckface..." --- I fell in love with him

right there. Your cab driver.

What an awesome ride!

[Soupy Liberaltarian]

42. How much was the fare? n/m

[Greyskye]

43. Change I like.

Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:

[WillyT]

45. Big K & R !!!

Beautiful...

:kick:

[peacetalksforall]

46. Ah yes, we can have understanding if left to us. Our leaders want us to

follow them on their path. We must find our own. Cut out the middleman. Some leaders are not good for our human health.

[onethatcares]

47. great story and a great feeling.

I'm sure there were many that shared the same thoughts. :bounce:

[StClone]

48. Were you in D.C. ?

I swear I had a similar experience happen to me last summer in D.C.!

[Jackeens]

69. I was going to ask the same thing!

Had a very similar experience with a taxi driver from Ethiopia in DC last month!!!

[Turbineguy]

49. It's sort of like the problem I run into.

My face isn't wide enough to fit my smile.

Nice. Thanks.

[Tsiyu]

50. Sweet

You got to ride shotgun AND listen to a "real" president.

Sigh...it's those little things, those random moments that make up for all the bullshit in life.

We still have each other when we put aside differences and take the time to connect. That's the most important lesson in life, and its greatest treasure.


:)

[Kind of Blue]

51. Sweet. Sweet experience. Thank you for sharing it :)

[Soylent Brice]

52. K&R

[peace13]

53. Oh Tangerine, I love your story.

Very beautiful. Peace, Kim

[redqueen]

54. What a nice story.

And what a great feeling, to want to hear what the President has to say.

[Bryn]

55. Sweet!

:thumbsup:

[JitterbugPerfume]

56. it it a little known fact

but cab drivers can be some of the coolest people!

Thanks for posting your story .It is heartwarming.

[MindPilot]

57. What's a "cab"?

Seriously, that's a very cool story. It is amazing that when the president comes on TV, I no longer have to remind myself about my city's firearms laws and how much I paid for the flat screen.

[derby378]

58. Great story!

Thanks for sharing. :hi:

[Mme. Defarge]

59. Mais, c'est magnifique!

[truedelphi]

63. What a great and happy tale. n/t

[happygoluckytoyou]

65. in a related story... i got on a bus and a creepy old man touched my leg... then John McCain got off

[Lilith Velkor]

67. LOL

!

[smkyle1]

66. simply beautiful n/t

[Mother Of Four]

68. Thank you so much for sharing this-

:hug:

[grantcart]

70. better than "cash cab" lol

[woundedkarma]

71. It's just the way it is now. We have a cool President :)

My girlfriend and I find it so cool to just listen to him when he's on.

She liked him from the beginning and she convinced me fairly early to listen to him. (I really liked Kucinich :( still do)

We dreaded getting Mccain and talked about seriously figuring out how to move to Canada because if we'd gotten him I'm not sure the country would have lasted another 8 years.

Now, here we are, with a President who doesn't tap dance at press conferences, who speaks with obvious intelligence and knowledge. He actually sounds like he cares and doesn't smirk at people's problems.

Just listening to the honesty and decency of his speeches, question answering and town hall meetings is a breath of fresh air.

[KalicoKitty]

72. Thanks for sharing!

So heartwarming!