Wednesday, May 23, 2007

XXXIII

I don't really like to tell what I call "second hand" stories. Oftentimes I will hear something funny or interesting from a passenger about their lives and I generally enjoy such tales. However, I've never thought that retelling someone else' story here really works well for the purposes of this blog. After all, this is the Las Vegas Cabbie Chronicles, not the Las Vegas Cabbie Passenger Chronicles. Nonetheless, there are exceptions to every rule....

It was mid afternoon and I was on the nut at the Golden Nugget, downtown. The whistle blew calling me up and as I was approaching the front door, I caught a glance of my passengers to be. It was a very old couple. A white man, whose name I found out later was Tom, and a asian lady, Yuki. Two carry on size pieces of luggage sat beside them. I popped the trunk lid as I came to a stop and got out to assist the bellman with the bags. I closed the trunk and opened the passenger side door for Yuki. The bellman opened the other door for Tom and said enthusiastically as he got in:

Have a safe trip, we'll see you next time!


Tom replied:
Doubt we'll be back, but thank you.


I walked around to my door and thought that was strange. Who doesn't have a fun time in Las Vegas? I dismissed the notion thinking that Luck must not have been a Lady for these two. After I climbed in I had no choice but to notice Tom's Navy blue hat, starring at me through the rear-view mirror.

USS TENNESSEE
BB-43


I thought I would break the ice...


Sorry you guys didn't enjoy Las Vegas.


Tom replied:

Oh no, it's not that. We had a wonderful time. We just got married here, seen some excellent shows, had a amazing suite and we even won some money!


Oh, well that's great then. My apologies, I overheard what you said to the bellman and gathered you didn't have a good time.


He laughed.
No. I said that because we don't know how much longer we're going to be on this earth, so a second trip to Vegas probably isn't in our deck of cards. This was our first time to Las Vegas and will most likely be our last.


I had nothing to say in response to that so I decided to try and change the subject to something that was undoubtedly more interesting.

So you guys just got married?


Yuki happily chimed in with a big beautiful smile on her face:
That's right, yesterday!


Wow that's great. Congratulations. So how long have you two known each other?


They looked at each other and smiled, then Tom replied:

65 years or so.


65 years!!?... And you just got married yesterday? That's one hell of an engagement! That must be an amazing story.


It is.
Yuki said.

You wouldn't mind telling it to me would you? My curiosity is piqued right now.
I inquired.

It almost seemed from the way Tom said "well", that he would be telling it for the first time:

Well, I joined the Navy shortly after I graduated from High School. I wasn't done with boot camp for long before I was assigned to the USS Tennessee in Pearl Harbor. Consequently forcing me to leave my friends, my family, my home and my long term girlfriend Patricia behind. I arrived at Pearl November 1, 1941, five weeks prior to the attacks there.

During my assignment in Hawaii is when I met Yuki. I first seen her at a marketplace outside the Naval Station, and she was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes upon. It was something that I felt immediately when I first seen her. I didn't find out until decades later that Yuki in fact had the same feeling at that very moment. Isn't that right sweetheart?


That's right!
Yuki said.

Tom continued:

Knowing that I had to meet this girl, I walked up and introduced myself and we immediately connected. We started spending time together but things were complicated. I wanted to remain loyal to my first love Patricia and as it turned out, Yuki was already engaged to a man by the name of Kioshi. We both respected each others current relationships, so we had no choice but to be strictly friends and friends only. If we wanted to spend time together that was the way it had to be. Despite the unbearable tension, I spent every free moment I had with Yuki, and hers with me. We knew that I could not have her, and she could not have me. But, we also knew that not seeing each other at all would have been worse. It seemed like an impossibility wrapped in a destiny. Kioshi soon found out about me and he forbid her to see me anymore, even though we had never even held hands. For a month I spent time with the girl of my dreams without ever feeling the grace of her skin.

Two days after Kioshi' proclamation the calender read: December 7th, 1941. Myself and the Tennessee were both wounded that day. We took multiple direct bomb hits as well as a massive spill over oil fire that we inherited from the Arizona. I thought for sure we were going down. The Arizona eventually sunk but myself and the Tennessee were fortunate enough to survive and we lived to fight another day. We spent a week or two making initial repairs to her and then set sail for Puget Sound mainland Washington, to make the remaining necessary repairs and preparations for war. I never even had a chance to say goodbye to Yuki or to tell her what she meant to me. As we sailed away to the northeast, I knew I would never see her again.

Extensive repairs and modifications were made to the Tennessee and in May of 1943 it was finally time to make our impression on the war. We fought battles at Tarawa, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, New Ireland, Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Anguar and Pelieu. We also played a hand in sinking the mighty Yamashiro in the battle of Surigao Strait. Shortly thereafter we set sail and returned stateside for repairs and another overhaul. We returned to the fight in time to participate in the Iwo Jima Operation. Providing mainly gunfire support for the ground troops.

Throughout my years at sea I would think of Yuki from time to time. I would think of her breathtaking smile and her soft hands that I never felt in mine. I thought about our conversations that flowed smoother than the ocean, and the day at the market when I spotted her for the first time. The only thing that gave me any comfort from the fact that I couldn't see her, was knowing that Kioshi was a good man. I knew he would care for her.

As you know, Japan ultimately surrendered, but we continued to occupy the region until we finally set sail for Philadelphia for good in December, 1946. Soon thereafter myself and the Tennessee were decommissioned from the Navy.


Patricia and I married in the summer of 1948 and we had a wonderful life together. I began working as a plumber and we had two wonderful children. We had been married for 52 years exactly when we discovered that Patricia had cancer. Patricia was a fighter and she lived with it for 3 years when the doctors only gave her a few months. She was my entire life and the mother of my children, I loved her dearly. The pain was unbearable for me. I grieved for a long time and the only thing I took comfort in was the fact that I knew I would be cashing my own ticket in soon. During that time, I knew that there was someone in this world who could make my pain subside. Someone who's eyes I could look into and I would know that everything was going to be alright. Someone I could love. So one day I decided that if Yuki was still out there, I was going to find her. I couldn't live anymore without knowing. I called my travel agent and booked a flight to Hawaii, to search for somebody I hadn't seen or spoken to in 65 years.

Thankfully, she was alive and still lived in the same town. It only took me a day to find her. The first time I looked at her again I had that same feeling in the pit of my stomach that I had 65 years ago. I knew instantly that this was still the love of my life. My soul-mate. I couldn't believe what I heard when Yuki informed me that her story mimicked mine. She had married Kioshi shortly after I shipped out and had been married to him for 52 years until he too, succumbed to cancer.


No way.
I said.


Tom continued:
She was living by herself after Kioshi' passing and she told me that throughout the years, her thoughts would wander to me, just like mine had to her. In fact, I like to think that we were always thinking of each other at the same exact time. Every time I was thinking of Yuki, some thousands of miles away Yuki was thinking of me at that very moment as well. Isn't that right sweetheart?


Tom said half jokingly, Yuki replied, trying not to cry:

That's right.


Wow. Really, unbelievable.
I said as we pulled up to the Hawaiian Airlines drop off at the port.

I can't believe it either, neither of us can.


Tom said.

...So we've spent every waking moment together since. Yuki told me that she felt the same exact way that I did the day she first seen me in the market. But of course she could not say so then, nor could I. Then one night, I asked Yuki to be my wife, "till death do us part", and she graciously accepted. That was two weeks ago and now here we are, on our way back to Hawaii to start our new life together....and telling the story to you.


I turned the meter off, put the cab in park and got out to open the doors for the newlyweds. I opened Tom's door first and as he protracted his feet to the pavement, I ran around and opened Yuki's door. I offered Yuki my hand to assist her out of the cab. She grabbed it and as she stood up she looked at me and I noticed the tears in her eyes.

You're not making moves on my lady there are you sport?
Tom said in his witty way.

No sir, I would never dream of it.


I closed the trunk-lid after grabbing the luggage and that's when Tom noticed that Yuki was crying. He began to slowly navigate his way over to her, seemingly summoning one last burst of strength from his weary legs. Yuki stood there waiting, like she had for all those years. Tom used the advertisement on the trunk and other parts of the cab as a makeshift crutch until he was finally able to completely engulf her in his arms. One across her body, the other behind her head. I set the bags on the curb and couldn't help but stare at their embrace. It was like I was invading them somehow, and I became envious of the most beautiful life moment I have ever witnessed. It was their moment. I cracked a smile and forced my eyes away as I opened the door to get back into the cab. Tom turned his head over Yuki's and said:

Wait son, what do we owe you?


Take care of each other, that's what you owe me. Have a safe flight home, and we'll see you next time you're in Vegas ok?


I drove away and noticed in the rear-view that Tom & Yuki hadn't moved an inch. Still holding each other until they finally disappeared from my sight. I couldn't help but think that Tom had said it best:

"An impossibility wrapped in a destiny"

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amazing, amazing, amazing... One of the best stories I've read. You really should write a book of short stories about your experiences. I'll bet the publishing crew over at LVA would be interested.

Unknown said...

Wow, that story brought tears to my eyes. It was an enjoyment to read. Thanks for sharing. What a lovely couple, and what a lovely thing you did for them.

Anonymous said...

Okay, this is the absolute best love story I've ever read. And you really, REALLY need to publish your stories and write a script for a screen adaptation. Who knows, maybe someday you'll get to Cannes with the stars of your film, but being the down to earth guy you are, STILL drive a cab in LV, because let's face it, the money's great when you're a star, but the paparazzi can really get on your tits. Great story. Keep em coming!

Paradise Driver said...

Excellent!

Absolutely excellent!

Anonymous said...

There you go again, absoultly knocked my socks off. I was there, in the cab somewhere. Hearing Tom and Yuki tell their story. You brought it to me so clearly I could not keep the tears of joy at bay. I loved the story, I appriciate the way you told it. Good job cabbie. Or should I say "good job writer, that drives a cab.

Johnny said...

Wow! Amazing story. Forwarded to my wife. She'll be crying at work (I almost am),

Anonymous said...

I followed one blog for about a year or so just to see an example of what one was. This story, sent to my by a friend, was far more interesting and satisfying! How nice to read a good ol' story that doesn't attempt to give me a guilt trip if I don't immediately send it to 'everyone in my book' or something like that. A good story, either happy or sad, often refreshes you with a good moral point or two and it's a good thing to be remineded of that as well as enjoying the pleasure of hearing a good story. It was so much more pleasant than watching the usual violence or profanity that seems to purvade TV programming with it's 'reality' shows featuring greed and sex to justify it's existance.

My thanks to the author for giving me something positive upon which to comment!

Dave - on the shore of Connecticut

Anonymous said...

This was one of the most beautiful stories I have ever heard. It has always been a dream of mine to be loved that much by my soulmate at that age.

Anonymous said...

That is the best love story I've ever heard. It brought tears to my eyes.

chrispj53 said...

I was in the navy for 31 years. I'm retired now and have met many people I hoped I would run across again. This story is amazing, and makes me proud in many ways.

Thanks for telling this tale - it was very inspiring!

Pete in Florida

Anonymous said...

Very touching story, i almsot cried, is a nice thing to read on a blog

Cheers from Ireland

Wizzzer

Anonymous said...

Sitting here crying- it is a beautiful story that just goes to show you that true love does still exsist in this crazy world!! Thank you Mrs,N33

Anonymous said...

Great story, I have a question though...how do you remember such precise details, like the name of each battle Tom was involved in? Do you keep some kind of recording device in your cab or do you just have a great memory?

F.B. Cabby said...

well told, or should I say written! I'm going to read it to my soul mate tonight.

Anonymous said...

How about somenew posts?
really like you perspective and writing style.
Keep it up

Anonymous said...

I'm not a cabbie, or anywhere near being a writer, but I hope you can devote as much time and effort as possible to your writing. Great story, and I was getting misty also. I'd certainly buy your books!

Eugene Salomon said...

Nothing wrong with second-hand stories if they're as powerful as this. I'm sending you a bill for all the kleenex I've had to use reading it. Great, great post.

Roy, Dublin Taxi Driver said...

nice story, hopefully they'll get back to Vegas some day

Anonymous said...

Truly moving...you have a wonderful narrative writing style. It is an absolute pleasure to read your blog!

Anonymous said...

Almost 2 months and no new story....your fans are waiting. I need something to read at work.

nettiemac said...

Simply beautiful!!!

Anonymous said...

hello i like your page i also have a very cool page which talks about all the hot spots in vegas check it out at http://lasvegasconcierge.blogspot.com

B.M. said...

Okay cabbie, you are one of 3 things:

1) An excellent fiction writer who made that story up

2) A wiz with photographic memory

3) You are a great writer that recorded that conversation and added some color to make it draw in the reader more.

Not trying to make this negative because it was a great story, but I'm skeptical that you can remember that entire story so perfectly from a random passenger.

Things that made me raise an eyebrow:

1) Remembering all the battles and towns he was in (and spelling them perfectly)

2) Let's face it, an average person barely remembers what they had for breakfast yesterday. Unless they were your last customer and you sat down after your 12 hour shift and then wrote the whole thing out, no way that story flows so well from secondhand memory alone.

3) Your description after the fact was pretty rom-com and borderland fantasy. On the flipside, truth can be odder than fiction sometimes.

Feel free to respond and let me know if I'm wrong. A tip of the hat if this all happened as you said. You are a talented writer regardless.

MrFunkMD said...

I don't record my rides. I don't have a photographic memory. I'm not full of shit.

I remembered the USS Tennessee...and I remembered that part of his story and him talking about the war and all the places they went during it.

I researched that ship on google for maybe ten minutes to get the specifics about it's career, specifically during WWII. Upon reading that most of the information correlated to what I remembered from his story.

It's not rocket science.

For the purposes of this story I felt it was important to be historically correct, especially considering Tom told me his story so well.

Ironic that the act of wanting to be factual nets responses claiming that I'm full of shit.

Francine2012 said...

This just made me cry. Just started going when he realized his wife was crying and went over to hug her...the sweetest thing I have ever read. You were lucky to have witnessed this.