Rosie, NYC Cab Driver

Hailing a yellow cab in NYC can be a daunting task, especially in bad weather. Waving your hand hoping to attract the attention of a cab driver is the ritual one needs to perform to hail a cab in the city. However, if you are fortunate to hop into a cab and the driver behind the wheel is an older woman with a gray ponytail,  sporting a black tee shirt, sweat pants and worn sneakers, you've hit the jackpot! Yes, a female cab driver. My good friend Rosie O Grady will greet you with her warm, sincere smile.

My childhood friend of 50 plus years Rosie O'Grady is a humble, unassuming, 64 yr. old female that has been driving a yellow taxi for more than 30 years.  A true example of the working class. Rosie was one of the few women in the taxi business back in the 80s when it was unusual and unheard of to find a female driver in an industry dominated by males. I would often question Rosie as to why she would put herself in harms way to shuttle people around the city. Rosie's response every time was "I love my job. It makes me feel good to help others and I love city driving!"

Everyone thinks a cab driver is just that, but a "good"  cab driver goes way beyond that.  A "good" cab driver wears many hats but the one frequently worn is the "listening" hat, or I refer to as the "bartender" hat. Rosie has listened to hundreds of happy, sad, tragic, confused, love stories over her career and considers each one a gift. Rosie would very seldom offer advice but when she did it was from the heart and genuine. Rosie would offer her motherly or gramdmotherly  advice but never insisting her customer take it.

Rosie has her own stories as well but would never share them, so I will. There were many times over the course of Rosie's career she would go out of her way for people less fortunate than she. Buying a cup of coffee for a homeless guy on a cold, snowy evening when she stopped to pump gas. The countless number of cell phones, keys and credit cards she's returned to their rightful owners.  She liked the "regulars" she'd say. The coffee vendors, hot dog guys and news paper stands that would always change a twenty for her. She liked to rescue people who just missed a bus especially late at night. She'd tell them get in the cab and then drive them to the next stop for free just because it was a good thing to do.   Often when a customer couldn't pay she didn't get excited .  Everyone has their story she would say and anyone can be down and out

Once Rosie gave a police officer a ride when he was chasing a suspect on foot. Then there are the unique ways Rosie's customers have paid their fares. Honestly, how many cab drivers would accept bars of soap from hotels,  a thong,  cigarettes, apples, donuts etc...as payment, not many. Rosie never refused and always made the customer feel good by making a big deal of the unique payment.

Now to describe the intoxicated customers finding their way into Rosie's cab after celebrating a night out. They are so inebriated  they have a difficult time getting out of Rosie's cab without assistance. Knowing these customers would be prey for predators in their vulnerable state Rosie would gently help them out of her cab and escort them to their door or keep a watchful eye as they stumble into the doorway to make sure they were safe. The stories are endless but hopefully this thumbnail sketch of Rosie will give you a sense of the compassionate, caring, kind, genuine person she is.

In 1992, while working nights Rosie was robbed at gunpoint, most people would have quit, but not Rosie. One bad experience out of thousands of rides didn't make Rosie turn her back on the rest of her fellow NewYorkers. She just got back in the cab and did what she loved best.

Sadly, it was confirmed on July 10, 2016  Rosie has a maglinant tumor in her breast and severe arthritis in both legs. Rosie is in constant pain and never complains. Her taxi driving days may be limited while she undergoes treatment for her cancer but her worries are about to snowball into an inconceivable financial hardship. When Rosie was given her diagnosis her response was "I have no time for cancer, I need to work to pay my rent, utilities and medical bills. "Rosie was never one to save for a rainy day because she always gave to others.

If you have been one of the hundreds of customers over the years to have had the pleasure to ride in Rosie's cab she could use your help. Perhaps you were one of the customers that skipped out on paying your fare . Here's your chance to make it right. Contributing to Rosie's
GoFundMe campaign will not cure her cancer but will help Rosie focus  energy on the healing process. Whatever you can afford to contribute would be greatly appreciated. The money collected through this campaign will allow Rosie to pay many overdue bills .

I think Rosie will be embarrassed to be on the receiving end of kindness but thankful.

I am truly honored to call Rosie O'Grady my friend!