What would taxi driving be without the no-show, that instant heartbreak sullying the taxi romance? Well, it would be a hell of a lot sweeter. Saturday I had two substantial (one an airport run) no-shows in a row but neither matched the Sunday late afternoon version. Luckily 24 plus years has toughened me. This is also a good example that bad things happen to the most experienced of cabbies, no one immune from the taxi venom.
I got belled into Children's Hospital for an ASAP DSHS run to Yakima, WA, paying a wonderful $376.00. Arriving at the Giraffe entrance folks at the front desk called and said the child and mother would be down soon. I got the call at 5:15 PM and was at the hospital in three minutes. I have been to Yakima three times and was looking forward to the drive. The pass over the Cascades was clear. I was ready to go.
Soon it is 5:40 PM and no passengers. Another call tells me to wait another ten minutes. Slightly unusual but not completely. Finally at 5:50 PM I find what the problem is. The child has a special wheelchair/car seat and the concern is that it won't fit in my Crown Victoria. I call dispatch who calls DSHS who eventually responds with the confounding "send a larger car" though the larger car, namely 478, was already there. It is decided that a nurse would come down and inspect my car.
An extremely nice young woman finally makes it down to me in total tears explaining that she had requested a wheelchair van two hours previously. Long and the sorry short of it is that I lost the fare and a full hour. Whether I am compensated for my lost time is very questionable. I put in my request already knowing the answer. I was on call. I couldn't leave. And what do I get? You know what I got! A swift kick in the old behind. At least the nurse shed a few tears for me. Sympathy is not a bad payment. The cabbie will take empathy anywhere he/she can get it, as rare as a golden nugget hidden in a swift-flowing stream.
Who Was Insulted?
She who can't be named plowed through a month of postings and especially noted my mention about mild lunacy concerning picking up packages. What I failed to mention was that a complaint was received saying I was rude and I was taken off bloods for at least a month. Of course the responsibility falls completely upon the cabbie. One mustn't object to being treated like a thief. I call it an ignoble accomplishment because it is unusually the most rabid of taxi drivers that are penalized. Me, why about three years ago I picked up a "hot" blood heading to Whidby Island and since the last ferry had departed I was compelled to drive all the way up to Deception Pass and then down the length of the island to the hospital and the waiting patient, all after I had been driving the entire day. Was I rude then, or were they just not paying attention. You know the answer.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Taxi Physical & Taxi Safety Presentation
Today I renewed my taxi for-hire license for hopefully the last time, at least what I term a serious re- licensing. If I get out of this crazy business on my own terms I have the intention to renew every year though I might never drive again. Even if I am selling tons of books I still want to be remembered and never forgotten as the taxi driver I will always be. As I told a nice guy originally from NYC I took on Sunday from West Seattle to some wine fest at the Seattle Center, "once a taxi driver, always a taxi driver" as he drove for 2 1/2 years while putting himself through college. He added that an uncle of his helped solve a taxi murder in Queens. Some might remember that in the mid-80s taxi and livery cab murders were averaging over fifty a year in the Big Apple! Thankfully the criminals in Seattle are polite and leave taxi crocodiles like me alone. They take one good look at me, remain well-behaved and sometimes even tip, just thankful I just didn't take one big bite and rip off their head. Who says I ain't courteous? You gotta be kiddin'!
Anyway, I first had to get my taxi physical today, my final step toward renewal. Most of us go down to this doctor's office in the International District (Chinatown/Little Saigon), plunk down our $50.00 and go through the most laughable examination possible. They scared me twice by telling me I weighted 198 pounds and that my blood pressure was 180 over 80. The assistant used some kind of automatic cuff and it was just wild. The doctor remeasured me with a standard cuff and came up with 120 over 70. Given my history of being 90 over 60 I was quite taken aback. And when I weighted myself at the West Seattle YMCA I was 176, still heavy for me but getting it wrong by 22 pounds is quite the accomplishment. My eyesight graded out as 20/25 but I complained that I had trouble seeing the chart due to glare from the fluorescent lighting. They also put me down as 5'8" so I also shrunk an inch. That office is just a little bit nutty. I asked why my hearing wasn't tested but for some reason Seattle/King County deciding it was no longer a necessity. I suppose that their rationale is since they know we never listen to anyone anyway it not mattering if you are stone deaf. The gals behind the desk got a big charge out of my question and made jokes, obviously enjoying themselves. Anything to relieve the boredom. Maybe next time they can put the blood pressure cuff around my throat. Now that would be exciting!
The big improvement once I got downtown to drop off the good news was the instantaneous creation of my new for-hire license. No more waiting for the damn thing to show up in the mail. I told them I was impressed but some of the King County folks appear to be miffed with me over my disenchantment with the taxi commission. I have made the egregious error of pointing out the madness that is the commission. I would be gone already but for a request by my taxi colleagues to stay on. Regardless, the long and short is that I am legal until the end of January 2013. I think 2013 it would the perfect year for the memoir I am writing, "To Age Thirteen" to become a best seller. You know how I like synchronicity.
Taxi Weather
I am extremely pleased to report that Professor Cliff Mass, the local weather guru and University of Washington professor has agreed to participate in some kind of weather safety seminar/lecture directed toward the Seattle/KC taxi community. As I have said previously, this is in response to Jack's death related to the black ice accident of January 23rd. I want to get the attention of all of my fellow cabbies and bringing on a local celebrity hopefully will do it. And all he is asking is for a donation to his education fund. Good to know that there are still some nice people remaining in Seattle as opposed to all of the money-grubbing carpetbaggers who have destroyed Seattle economically, trying to transform this little place into NYC. Hopefully the presentation will happen either in March or April. The sooner the better.
Anyway, I first had to get my taxi physical today, my final step toward renewal. Most of us go down to this doctor's office in the International District (Chinatown/Little Saigon), plunk down our $50.00 and go through the most laughable examination possible. They scared me twice by telling me I weighted 198 pounds and that my blood pressure was 180 over 80. The assistant used some kind of automatic cuff and it was just wild. The doctor remeasured me with a standard cuff and came up with 120 over 70. Given my history of being 90 over 60 I was quite taken aback. And when I weighted myself at the West Seattle YMCA I was 176, still heavy for me but getting it wrong by 22 pounds is quite the accomplishment. My eyesight graded out as 20/25 but I complained that I had trouble seeing the chart due to glare from the fluorescent lighting. They also put me down as 5'8" so I also shrunk an inch. That office is just a little bit nutty. I asked why my hearing wasn't tested but for some reason Seattle/King County deciding it was no longer a necessity. I suppose that their rationale is since they know we never listen to anyone anyway it not mattering if you are stone deaf. The gals behind the desk got a big charge out of my question and made jokes, obviously enjoying themselves. Anything to relieve the boredom. Maybe next time they can put the blood pressure cuff around my throat. Now that would be exciting!
The big improvement once I got downtown to drop off the good news was the instantaneous creation of my new for-hire license. No more waiting for the damn thing to show up in the mail. I told them I was impressed but some of the King County folks appear to be miffed with me over my disenchantment with the taxi commission. I have made the egregious error of pointing out the madness that is the commission. I would be gone already but for a request by my taxi colleagues to stay on. Regardless, the long and short is that I am legal until the end of January 2013. I think 2013 it would the perfect year for the memoir I am writing, "To Age Thirteen" to become a best seller. You know how I like synchronicity.
Taxi Weather
I am extremely pleased to report that Professor Cliff Mass, the local weather guru and University of Washington professor has agreed to participate in some kind of weather safety seminar/lecture directed toward the Seattle/KC taxi community. As I have said previously, this is in response to Jack's death related to the black ice accident of January 23rd. I want to get the attention of all of my fellow cabbies and bringing on a local celebrity hopefully will do it. And all he is asking is for a donation to his education fund. Good to know that there are still some nice people remaining in Seattle as opposed to all of the money-grubbing carpetbaggers who have destroyed Seattle economically, trying to transform this little place into NYC. Hopefully the presentation will happen either in March or April. The sooner the better.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Cabbie's Reading Corner
I have decided to take Scott Simon's idea and apply it to myself. So occasionally when I am reading something worthwhile I will mention it. And those who are my taxi driver readers, please feel encouraged to recommend a good read. I do promise I will not list everything I am or have been reading because my various agendas for reading a particular book may not lend itself for general perusal. And my best current for instance and example is Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables" which I am reading solely due to its vaunted place in literary history. I like it but it is truly too wordy and the allusions are so obscure as to be completely confounding. Only a very-versed historian of 18th & 19th century France could truly understand what Hugo is referencing. If that completely annotated version exists I want it! Or maybe, if given the opportunity, publish one myself, though I won't be the poor soul doing the research. It would take me a couple of lifetimes, at least!
No, the book I am recommending is fairly simple but wonderfully written. The fourth chapter, entitled, "Reptile Love", is worth the entire book, which is "The Lizard King" by Bryan Christy, a expose about real-live reptile smuggling. Sorry to disappoint all those Doors fans out there as it has nothing to do with that rock & roll lizard king, Jim Morrison though I can admit to once standing beside his Paris graveside in August of 2003.. Vitals for the book: published 2008 by Hachette Book Group. ISBN-13:978-0-446-58095-3.
And remember, you almost have to try to die from a rattlesnake bite. Twice I have stepped upon rattlesnakes while hiking and both times the snake just got the heck out of there. Snakes are nice if not particularly friendly creatures. They have their own way and manner of doing things. Just like some taxi drivers I know. I wouldn't pet them either!
No, the book I am recommending is fairly simple but wonderfully written. The fourth chapter, entitled, "Reptile Love", is worth the entire book, which is "The Lizard King" by Bryan Christy, a expose about real-live reptile smuggling. Sorry to disappoint all those Doors fans out there as it has nothing to do with that rock & roll lizard king, Jim Morrison though I can admit to once standing beside his Paris graveside in August of 2003.. Vitals for the book: published 2008 by Hachette Book Group. ISBN-13:978-0-446-58095-3.
And remember, you almost have to try to die from a rattlesnake bite. Twice I have stepped upon rattlesnakes while hiking and both times the snake just got the heck out of there. Snakes are nice if not particularly friendly creatures. They have their own way and manner of doing things. Just like some taxi drivers I know. I wouldn't pet them either!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Two Hours of Agony & Sea-Tac Ground Transportation Hearing
She who can't be named commented that my "grinding it out" moved a trifle too fast, glossing over the pain and suffering of those lost early Saturday morning hours. And she has a legitimate point, because sitting in that taxi waiting "for Godot" does seem like an eternity or somehow similar to the most existential of questions concerning existence: where will life take me? Suffice to say, minute by minute ticks by, and especially for those confined to a morning or night shift, each fading minute translating into missed opportunity. During that time I was reading the newspaper, constantly scanning the computer and chowing down on my snack of organic mashed potatoes and turkey. But even so, the goal is to have that meter running and nothing else. Heading off to the University District gave me almost an immediate position of "first car to go" but again all I did was sit. Yes I was beginning to swear out loud. I even pounded the steering wheel for some distracting melodrama. It was dark so no one could see me acting the lunatic! I could go into far more detail but you have the pathetic picture. Sitting in the taxi for over an hour waiting for what we don't know is a minor version of Hell. Maybe Rick Santorum's evil Satan had something to do with it. Is Satan a Roman Catholic?
Sea-Tac Appeal Hearing
My friend Sorush M., a taxi veteran of over 27 years was nabbed with a $300.00 dollar ticket for the alleged crime of sitting on the ticket level trying to pick up all the customers that were no where to be seen that Sunday night of December 11, 2011. I just happened to be dropping off just after an employee from Sea-Tac ground transportation had confronted him. Sorush was finishing up a credit card transaction and the fellow in question tapped on the taxi window demanding Sorush's taxi for-hire license. It appears that the gentleman refused to identify himself which prompted Sorush to call 911 and request police assistance. I too tried to make sense of the situation, talking to the police that Sunday evening.
Fast forward to this morning to his appeals hearings which I attended as what I could describe as an expert witness on the behalf of my friend. After Sorush's very emotional testimony I said that if I didn't know that ground transportation had police-like enforcement authority then clearly no other taxi driver could be expected to be aware of that particular mandate. The four women on the panel were reasonable, and I think the chances are good that Sorush will be left off with a warning. He took me out for Chinese afterwards. Nobody likes going through these kinds of personal trials alone. It isn't any fun. I told the panel that the entire situation was counter intuitive. Like me, Sorush just works the weekends. His "day" job is being a civil engineer. My day job is sleeping which I am about to attend to. May I not dream about taxi!
Sea-Tac Appeal Hearing
My friend Sorush M., a taxi veteran of over 27 years was nabbed with a $300.00 dollar ticket for the alleged crime of sitting on the ticket level trying to pick up all the customers that were no where to be seen that Sunday night of December 11, 2011. I just happened to be dropping off just after an employee from Sea-Tac ground transportation had confronted him. Sorush was finishing up a credit card transaction and the fellow in question tapped on the taxi window demanding Sorush's taxi for-hire license. It appears that the gentleman refused to identify himself which prompted Sorush to call 911 and request police assistance. I too tried to make sense of the situation, talking to the police that Sunday evening.
Fast forward to this morning to his appeals hearings which I attended as what I could describe as an expert witness on the behalf of my friend. After Sorush's very emotional testimony I said that if I didn't know that ground transportation had police-like enforcement authority then clearly no other taxi driver could be expected to be aware of that particular mandate. The four women on the panel were reasonable, and I think the chances are good that Sorush will be left off with a warning. He took me out for Chinese afterwards. Nobody likes going through these kinds of personal trials alone. It isn't any fun. I told the panel that the entire situation was counter intuitive. Like me, Sorush just works the weekends. His "day" job is being a civil engineer. My day job is sleeping which I am about to attend to. May I not dream about taxi!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Grinding It Out
Though my purpose is multiple, the primary reason I have been writing this blog is to show what taxi is really like, factual taxi, and just like the blogs name, it is an unblemished description of the glories or not of the total taxi driving experience. Given that, today is a portrayal of what it takes to make money, to make or "construct a shift" as I call it. It takes skill and a grim determination to make money despite all odds against you. This story begins this past Saturday morning at about 3:40 AM. You will see clearly all the fun I wasn't having.
I am booked in Zone 270, which is the greater area just south of the stadiums. Still loading my taxi for the weekend I hear the computer beeping at me, offering me a fare. It is in an adjacent area, zone 505, and despite some difficulty in getting the computer to take my acceptance, I get the fare, an airport time call for 4:00 AM next to the old Farwest taxi lot. Great I said but oh no! as I arrive, seeing that another Yellow cab has already arrived, a sure sign that the call was double-belled. Sure thing as the passenger apologized over the telephone. What happened is a too typical occurrence. The passenger called to confirm his time call and the call taker put it out as a new call. Happens all the time and the driver is impacted without any compensation other than getting your first position back. All you can do is attempt to remain calm. There is literally no other option. Getting angry achieves nothing whatsoever other than breaking your concentration. That you don't want to do because the unbalanced taxi driver just topples off that high wire. And there is no one to rub your head!
Unfortunately, I became marooned in the 270, finally leaving after patiently waiting for nearly a hour. Sometimes you just have to leave first up and I did, heading to the University District. I was muttering to myself before finally getting a 5:30 AM time call to Sea-Tac. Thank goodness I got $42.00 after losing almost two hours. Okay, I say to myself, my weekend is finally started. With only working 2 days a week, the pressure upon myself is intense. I literally can not afford to fail.
Clearly it is a "slow-going morning" and I make it all the way back to the University District, a good 16 or so dead-head miles to pick up a young woman needing to catch a south-bound bus at 2nd & Cherry. I get her there in plenty of time. She was attending a remedial driving class in the city of Lakewood which is south of Tacoma. By taking the eight hour long class she beats her "running the red light" ticket. I got $17.00.
Heading to the West Seattle zone 260 I quickly get a "freaked-out" gentleman who has been waiting nearly a hour and didn't want to miss his train to Vancouver, BC, Canada. I think he was dumped. I told him not to fear and got him to the King Street station in about 8 minutes. He was extremely grateful and gave me a total of $21.00 for my efforts.
Noticing that there was a bell sitting in zone 152 (University Hospital) I bid for it then flew over there to deliver a package from U Hospital inpatient pharmacy to Children's inpatient pharmacy. It is a bit of a pain as you have to get a security badge made up at Children's but hell! it was another $14.00 though I was beginning to burn a lot of gasoline flying like I was searching for fares. That is what I mean by grinding it out!
Quickly got a fare in zone 155, a stranded kid at a bus stop, taking him for $7.00 just a block away from my favorite U District coffee shop. All this running requires an artificial boost.
Soon thereafter I get a much better call in the 155, a young yoga instructor going up to Lynnwood for an all-day yoga seminar. With tip I had another $42.00 and I later picked her in the early evening for another $42.00. Nothing like taxi miles adding up. This particular weekend I spent over $200.00 dollars on fuel. Lots of fun.
Calculating the time, I realized that I had better head back to West Seattle for my Vashon Island ferry personal which averages a cool $50-60.00 dollars during a quick 40 minute round-trip. But it meant dead-heading a good 20 or more miles southward. . I really like the couple, Shona & Michael, and this time it was $55.00 dollars. I was catching up to myself. All my complaints flew out of the taxi door. All I could do my focus and shut up and keep driving. There was no alternative.
My next fare was a family going to San Francisco with their dog from the West Seattle zone 260. Forgot the pooch's name but he was great, a very spirited dachshund-mix. Nice people and wonderful dog resulting in $50.00 dollars.
Coming back I noticed the Queen Anne (zone 170) was moving and immediately got another Sea-Tac run. This was more like it! Bunch of young folks in town for job interviews. Another $48.00 dollars!
Coming back I got a Georgetown bell going to Belltown. They were in these amazing Mardi Gras costumes, covered with beads and wearing masks and it was still morning. A very pleasant couple translating into $22.00 dollars.
And there you have it, taxi at it finest or worse. And as I have been losing the last paragraph twice over, I better stop before I lose my mind, which I am about too!
I am booked in Zone 270, which is the greater area just south of the stadiums. Still loading my taxi for the weekend I hear the computer beeping at me, offering me a fare. It is in an adjacent area, zone 505, and despite some difficulty in getting the computer to take my acceptance, I get the fare, an airport time call for 4:00 AM next to the old Farwest taxi lot. Great I said but oh no! as I arrive, seeing that another Yellow cab has already arrived, a sure sign that the call was double-belled. Sure thing as the passenger apologized over the telephone. What happened is a too typical occurrence. The passenger called to confirm his time call and the call taker put it out as a new call. Happens all the time and the driver is impacted without any compensation other than getting your first position back. All you can do is attempt to remain calm. There is literally no other option. Getting angry achieves nothing whatsoever other than breaking your concentration. That you don't want to do because the unbalanced taxi driver just topples off that high wire. And there is no one to rub your head!
Unfortunately, I became marooned in the 270, finally leaving after patiently waiting for nearly a hour. Sometimes you just have to leave first up and I did, heading to the University District. I was muttering to myself before finally getting a 5:30 AM time call to Sea-Tac. Thank goodness I got $42.00 after losing almost two hours. Okay, I say to myself, my weekend is finally started. With only working 2 days a week, the pressure upon myself is intense. I literally can not afford to fail.
Clearly it is a "slow-going morning" and I make it all the way back to the University District, a good 16 or so dead-head miles to pick up a young woman needing to catch a south-bound bus at 2nd & Cherry. I get her there in plenty of time. She was attending a remedial driving class in the city of Lakewood which is south of Tacoma. By taking the eight hour long class she beats her "running the red light" ticket. I got $17.00.
Heading to the West Seattle zone 260 I quickly get a "freaked-out" gentleman who has been waiting nearly a hour and didn't want to miss his train to Vancouver, BC, Canada. I think he was dumped. I told him not to fear and got him to the King Street station in about 8 minutes. He was extremely grateful and gave me a total of $21.00 for my efforts.
Noticing that there was a bell sitting in zone 152 (University Hospital) I bid for it then flew over there to deliver a package from U Hospital inpatient pharmacy to Children's inpatient pharmacy. It is a bit of a pain as you have to get a security badge made up at Children's but hell! it was another $14.00 though I was beginning to burn a lot of gasoline flying like I was searching for fares. That is what I mean by grinding it out!
Quickly got a fare in zone 155, a stranded kid at a bus stop, taking him for $7.00 just a block away from my favorite U District coffee shop. All this running requires an artificial boost.
Soon thereafter I get a much better call in the 155, a young yoga instructor going up to Lynnwood for an all-day yoga seminar. With tip I had another $42.00 and I later picked her in the early evening for another $42.00. Nothing like taxi miles adding up. This particular weekend I spent over $200.00 dollars on fuel. Lots of fun.
Calculating the time, I realized that I had better head back to West Seattle for my Vashon Island ferry personal which averages a cool $50-60.00 dollars during a quick 40 minute round-trip. But it meant dead-heading a good 20 or more miles southward. . I really like the couple, Shona & Michael, and this time it was $55.00 dollars. I was catching up to myself. All my complaints flew out of the taxi door. All I could do my focus and shut up and keep driving. There was no alternative.
My next fare was a family going to San Francisco with their dog from the West Seattle zone 260. Forgot the pooch's name but he was great, a very spirited dachshund-mix. Nice people and wonderful dog resulting in $50.00 dollars.
Coming back I noticed the Queen Anne (zone 170) was moving and immediately got another Sea-Tac run. This was more like it! Bunch of young folks in town for job interviews. Another $48.00 dollars!
Coming back I got a Georgetown bell going to Belltown. They were in these amazing Mardi Gras costumes, covered with beads and wearing masks and it was still morning. A very pleasant couple translating into $22.00 dollars.
And there you have it, taxi at it finest or worse. And as I have been losing the last paragraph twice over, I better stop before I lose my mind, which I am about too!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Jack Update & It Is Hard To Win With The SPD
Last week I talked to Jack's sister Pam. She confirmed that Jack's body had been cremated and the family is awaiting the delivery of the urn. She also said that it could be between 4-6 weeks before the autopsy results are back. I have the unfortunate feeling that this story, the hospital involvement with Jack's death, could take many months if not years to be resolved and concluded. I hope I am wrong. Pam said their initial idea about a funeral or memorial resolves around having some kind of wake at the Mecca Cafe, followed by a ceremony at that large cemetery atop the north side of Queen Anne hill, where Jack's ashes will be spread over his father's grave. Again, all news one way or the other will be posted as I receive it. There is a donation box located at the Yellow cashier window for those who are interested in contributing. The address of the lot is 74 South Hudson, which is about a half mile or so north of the First South bridge.
This evening I received a telephone call from SPD, telling me that my internal investigation complaint was not substantiated. I did not expect it to be. As the Department of Justice report pointed out, the SPD are prone to exonerating their officers regardless of the situation. I just heard this horrific story of officer overreaction related by KOMO radio, the local radio news station. If you are interested to know more I suggest you go to their website. Clearly there are more serious incidents than the public can keep up with. That the abuse appears to be institutionalized is confirmed by the Justice report. The late Barry Fletcher relayed more than once that it was standard procedure to beat up the suspects as they were being arrested. I know the feeling. Boy would I enjoy punching some of my passengers in the nose. I know for sure that many of my passengers would enjoy retalilating in a similar manner.
Tomorrow expect a posting concerning grinding it out as a taxi driver. You might find it informative.
This evening I received a telephone call from SPD, telling me that my internal investigation complaint was not substantiated. I did not expect it to be. As the Department of Justice report pointed out, the SPD are prone to exonerating their officers regardless of the situation. I just heard this horrific story of officer overreaction related by KOMO radio, the local radio news station. If you are interested to know more I suggest you go to their website. Clearly there are more serious incidents than the public can keep up with. That the abuse appears to be institutionalized is confirmed by the Justice report. The late Barry Fletcher relayed more than once that it was standard procedure to beat up the suspects as they were being arrested. I know the feeling. Boy would I enjoy punching some of my passengers in the nose. I know for sure that many of my passengers would enjoy retalilating in a similar manner.
Tomorrow expect a posting concerning grinding it out as a taxi driver. You might find it informative.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Hey Scott Simon, Where Is That London Book Reading Cabbie?
I haven't heard this NPR radio segment for a few years now but the weekend host, Scott Simon, used to occasionally check in on a depressed-sounding London taxi driver and find out what he was currently reading. I think the theory behind this feature was that every taxi driver had "down time" between the fares and reading is a beneficial time consumer. At least in the past it was not unusual to see a driver sitting on a downtown hotel stand with his nose poked into a book. That has never been my habit, as I am always nervously thinking about my next fare, scanning the computer screen for what is happening in every part of the city. A newspaper is about as serious as I get, and even then I am putting it down every 30 seconds or so to read the MDT.
But read I do when I am not driving, and my current read is something I must recommend. It is non-fiction and the full title is a "Reluctant Accomplice, A Wehrmacht Soldier's Letters From The Eastern Front." The book is edited by the German historian Konrad H. Jarausch and the letters were written by his own father, Konrad Jarausch, the father he never saw, having succumbed to fever in January 1942. I have not read anything like this in a very long time, reminding me of all those WWII autobiographies I read in 1967-68, forming the basis for my later conscientious objection application in 1972. If you are interested in knowing about wars' realities written by someone who didn't want to be there, then this book is for you. It was published by Princeton University Press in 2011. ISBN 978-0-691-14042-1. Good reading!
But read I do when I am not driving, and my current read is something I must recommend. It is non-fiction and the full title is a "Reluctant Accomplice, A Wehrmacht Soldier's Letters From The Eastern Front." The book is edited by the German historian Konrad H. Jarausch and the letters were written by his own father, Konrad Jarausch, the father he never saw, having succumbed to fever in January 1942. I have not read anything like this in a very long time, reminding me of all those WWII autobiographies I read in 1967-68, forming the basis for my later conscientious objection application in 1972. If you are interested in knowing about wars' realities written by someone who didn't want to be there, then this book is for you. It was published by Princeton University Press in 2011. ISBN 978-0-691-14042-1. Good reading!
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