The Stranger Who Changed My LifeIt was a sunny morning in the spring of 1966. I was driving a taxi,looking for a customer. While passing New York Hospital, I found a man runningdown the hospital steps, waving at me.I stopped. The man reached the taxi and jumped in. “The Airport,please,” he said. As always, I wondered about my passenger. Was this man atalker? After a few moments, he started saying, “How do you like driving ataxi?”“It’s OK,” I said. “I make a living and meet interesting peoplesometimes.”“What do you do?” I asked.“I am a doctor at New York Hospital.”Many times during long rides, I’d developed a good relationship withmy passengers and received very good advice from them. This time I decided toask for help.“Could I ask a favor of you?” He didn’t answer. “I have a son, 15, agood kid. He wants a job this summer. Is it possible that you get one for him?”He still wasn’t talking, and I was starting to feel foolish.Finally, he said, “Well, my students have a summer research project. Maybe hecould join in. Have him send me his school record.”He left his address and paid me. It was the last time I ever sawhim.Robbie sent off his grades the next morning. And gradually thisincident was forgotten. Two weeks later, when I arrived home from work, Robbiehanded me a letter. He was informed to call Dr. Plum for an interview.Robbie got the job. The following summer, Robbie worked at thehospital again, but this time, he was given more responsibility. Then, heworked at the hospital for a third summer and gradually developed a love ofmedical profession.Near graduating from college, Robbie applied to and was admitted toNew York Medical College. After getting his medical degree, Robbie, the son ofa taxi driver, became a doctor at Columbia Medical Center.
