necessity

After a horrendous night last night, today was non stop.
The day started with a couple to the airport heading to Las Vegas. I think the Mrs. was a little embarrassed at her husband's inclination toward profanity. His speech was peppered with malediction revealing his ignorance and immaturity. That doesn't make him a bad person. I hope they have a safe and memorable getaway.
Picked up some boring business people at the airport headed back to the office after a 24 hour Chicago excursion. Next I was dispatched to South Shore Hospital to pick up a woman who is a regular rider with us. The first few times I had her we talked quite a bit but now she's always quiet. She's going through some very hard times because her ex husband has decided he'd rather be in prison than pay child support.
I had to switch cars because mine had a bad tire. A slow leak that wasn't slow enough. If you took all the parts from all the cabs in the company you might be able to build one nice car.
Cruised on down to the mall and found two ladies from California going to the Hilton. They can't wait to go home because its so cold here. I looked up the weather in Los Angeles and found that it was 66 degrees. Exactly 17 degrees warmer than here. Crybabies.
After them I picked up a dude at a local watering hole. He was hammered but a happy drunk. He asked me if I had any cocaine (fresh out) and then kept trying to pass me his bottle of Jack Daniels.
"Come on take a sip, just a sip!" Weren't those Lady Dianna's exact words to her driver that fateful night in Paris?? Anyway, the good news is that this gentleman has had his license suspended for life. Life! Ha ha! Wow.
Next up was a sweet little Asian girl, she told me a little about her home town in the Northeast part of Thailand close to Laos. I said it sounds very beautiful. She giggled and thanked me. Her English is less than perfect and my Thai is even worse so it is very possible she thought I was saying that she herself is very beautiful. An awkward moment indeed.
Later there was an older woman and her husband and they needed to get to the hospital. Its pretty common for folks to call a cab when they actually belong in an ambulance because its just so much cheaper and this was one of those cases. It seems she had fell out of a tree and landed on a chain link fence. This happened a few days ago and only now that the pain is intolerable did she decide to get checked out. She was off and on screaming so I drove as fast as I could. It was a free pass to speed because if I had been pulled over I could simply have said "Stand aside officer, this is a medical emergency! Escort us if you care!"

pathos

I had had a bad bad feeling, sure enough the dude ran off. Twenty Eight bucks he owed me the bastard. It happened ninety minutes ago and I am still pissed off about it. Ahhhhh!! I have to admit I'm more embarrassed than angry because I wasted my precious limited energy engaging in a fake conversation. I fell for the old fake out. It happens.

The night was a miserable one. Raining. No work. Evil spirits all around. The Bruins blew a 2-0 lead in the third period and from my place in the cab stand I watched train after train unload herds of disheartened Hockey fans. Grumble grumble.
It was wicked boring in the station so I took a couple photos with my phone. The one one the left came out well. She saw me trying to sneak a picture but I did anyway when she looked away. Is it so wrong? Probably. Oh well, who cares. Our dispatcher of late is horrendous and horrible and pretty bad too. Words keep flying out his mouth hitting my body like darts and BB's. Please for the love of Jesus, Shut Up Greg!
There were not any interesting fares and I hardly made any money. But it happens. Still can't believe I fell for that fake out.

In my time as a driver, these past few years have brought the best bunch of cabbies to the scene. A random mix of peculiar personalities tossed together in a weird and tragic drama. A bunch of chuckle heads, we are always arguing and laughing but we care about each other. I can only think of a few times in my life when I've felt very comfortable at work. Murray Pipe was like that back in 1980 to 1982.
Well, now this group is starting to break up. Had to happen some time but it is a loss and I do feel sad about it. What can one do, these kinds of things happen.

orchestral velocity

A lady tried to give me two shamrock shaped chocolates for Saint Patrick's day but my Mommy always told me over and over never to take candy from strangers.

Later I picked up a man with shaved head off the airport bus. If you are going to go for that look I'm quite sure you have to shave your head every day and shine it up with some kind of special wax. I could be wrong. This was a 20 minute ride and it was quiet in the cab, both of us a million miles away and content not to talk. And that damn head back there just shining and reflecting the sun. Refracting colors in my eyes. "Pretty decent day, eh?" I finally said.

"No, this sucks I just left 85 degrees." We drove on.
A few minutes later I mentioned that Springtime is just around the corner but he just looked disgusted and irritated and I think he swore at me. Later for you mirror-head.
Then there were two guys headed for the Dropkick Murphys concert. Tonight's was the final show cleverly meant to coincide with St. Patties and all that. One of them was wearing a kilt and had bagpipes and the other one had a harp (harmonica) and they played some music for me on the way to Boston. It was pretty cool. Except for that kilt.

thank you jesus

One time I got pulled over by a cop in an unmarked SUV. After dropping his kid at school (using a public vehicle I might add) He made an illegal u-turn right in front of me and not knowing he was the "the heat" I sort of called him on it by pulling up fast right behind him.
So, on go the blue lights and I get that queasy "getting pulled over by the cops" feeling and here he comes: Huge, scary storm (woops) state trooper. Pointing to the statue of Jesus in front of the school he says "That is a statue of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and that is the only reason that I am not ripping your heart out of your chest right now."
I knew I didn't do anything terribly wrong and what I should have done is tell him I didn't really do anything wrong and report his badge number to his superior but I was just so happy to be alive that I didn't say anything. I sat there dumbfounded and if you know me personally you can picture that clearly in your mind.
He promised that if he ever even saw me again he would write a ticket for a thousand dollars. I guess they can do that. Thankfully I have not crossed this constables path since that time thus avoiding a fine of $1000.00 which I could never afford.

A few months later someone described to me an eerily similar experience happening to them.

Apparently no one has been able to stop him.
There's no denying the efficiency of fascism.

it is a sad and beautiful world

Had two fares tonight only.
One ignorant woman from Marshalls to the mall. One mental patient from Holiday Inn to the liquor store and back.

Called on to dispatch I did not hesitate to fulfill my duties.
Billy, as it happens took a fall in the snow whilst recruiting his mail. He is alright.

Our good friend and colleague passed last week. Farewell Steve [the cat] Morris.

move, the

Moving sucks but I had to find a new place to live. After looking around a little and not finding anything interesting or affordable I remembered a buddy who I knew had some rental units. It worked out perfectly because he and his wife had a one bedroom available. I've been living here for one week now. Everything, all my crap is in boxes and milk crates but who cares I'll get to that some day. The move itself went very smooth because I was lucky enough to have had three good strong friends to help me [you know who you are, a thousand thank yous]
So this thing called life continues but from a new location. From here I will continue to ponder the meaning of that life.
I'll get back to you on that.