What a driver in Martinsburg, West Virgina experienced shows how important it is to pay attention to those around us. When this man saw a woman on the street one morning, he stopped to check if everything was okay with her.
Feeling a bit worried, he drove up next to the old lady, rolled down the window and asked her if she was alright. The senior answered that she was on her way to the store... in Hedgesville. "I was shocked—it takes 10 minutes by car to get to Hedgesville from where we were," said the driver. Fighting back tears, the woman explained that she was from Hedgesville, but that after her son died, she had been moved to Martinsburg where she didn't know anyone.
Overcome with sympathy for the woman, the man asked her to get in the car with him. "She looked in a bit confused, so I asked her to get in and told her I could drive her anywhere she wanted to go and could take her home safely." Thankfully, the retiree got in and led the driver on the most exciting journey of his life.
He learned that her name was Isabelle. She was 93 years old and a Native American. She told the driver about her first marriage—which took place when she was only 13 years old—about her five husbands, and about the mountains where she grew up. "She was incredible, so lively and humorous," the man recalled.
With all the thrilling stories that Isabelle had to tell, the journey to Hedgesville felt like it took no time at all. Her "chauffeur" waited for her in front of the store and was amazed when she returned to the car with only a jar of instant coffee. On the way home, Isabelle forgot her address. "Do you know where I live?" she asked, confused, to which the kind man smiled and said, "No, but let's just keep driving. Maybe you'll remember on the way."
On the journey home, she recounted how she had worked on a farm at the age of 12. She had met her first love there in the orchard but it was not to be since a relationship with a "red girl" was forbidden.
When she finally got to her house, she looked at the man who drove her around one final time and said, "I don't know where you came from but I want to thank you." The driver was touched and gave Isabelle his card, telling her to call him anytime she needed help.
"I probably will never hear from Isabelle, potentially will never see her again. But she gave me one of the most incredible mini adventures by allowing me to travel back into time to experience the stories of her life. I hope Isabelle is okay, that knows she is incredible and touched my life today."
It's nice to see that there are people like this driver who aren't dismissive of the elderly but rather help and listen to them. If you're not willing to listen to other people's life stories, you're going to miss out on a wonderful experience.
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