Focus Upon Passengers
In part I am featuring those folks we cabbies both love and hate but without passengers we wouldn't be able to complain about them. Eons ago, often packages and not human customers were our taxi bread and butter, a long past era never returning. Yesterday I had some kind of medical package but that was a rare deviation from the passenger-oriented norm. So you get what you get and sometimes its neither straightforward nor pleasant. Welcome to taxi as I know it!
Mike
Mike presented the classic taxi conundrum: do I take this guy on this long ride, knowing I might not get paid, or more wisely, tell him no and go on to the next fare? It is something that often occurs and in this example, the passenger waiting at Harborview Hospital was sitting there only wearing hospital garb, saying he needed to go all the way up north to Arlington, a ride turning out to be $120.00. The question posed was, do I be sympathetic or go with my instincts that nothing about this situation seems normal, far best to just drive away. And when he said, "no problem, my mother will be paying," I knew I was looking for trouble I didn't need. Despite that, judging the best I could, off we went with me hoping for the best outcome.
Mike was all banged up, his left foot broken in three places along with various bruises from head to foot. How did this happen? Drunk, he had stepped into the path of a train. Plausible yes, and lucky to be alive.
Upon arriving at his mother's building, where a resident thankfully let us in, and now at his mother's fifth floor apartment, his shocked mother opened the door saying, "What are you doing here? You are supposed to be in the hospital!"
Ah yes, Mike was an escapee, leaving the hospital minus permission, and I was the unlucky accomplice, taking him to where he didn't need to be. His mother, reasonable when she had no reason, agreed to come down to the cab and pay the fare with her credit card.
It was in the elevator where she told me Mike had intentionally jumped in front of the train in a failed suicide attempt. All she could do was shake her head. And all I could do was thank the taxi heavens I got paid. What a bad story.
Poison
Leaving her hair appointment, barely in the cab before she both began directing me while complaining about previous rides. This was a short ride to an uncomplicated address but this not stopping her mouth from slewing garbage. Sometimes I'm not in the mood and I hinted that she was simply out-of-control, worrying for no reason whatsoever about a five dollar fare on her way back to her $10,000 a month retirement home. Her last bit of bullshit prompted me to say, Lady, you ain't paying me no money. Here we are. Out!" And telling her, "No one likes to be picked on!" She was nuts and didn't give a damn she was crazy. Has her money made her happy? Or sane? Obviously not.
Two Russian Sailors
Needing to go to a local Apple Store, I took them from their ship to South Center, and on the way there had some interesting conversation. They were nice guys, and when they asked if I could pick them up again, I said, sure, try me, here's my card.
About three hours later, I was summoned back to the shopping center, finding them happy to be returning, saying they could understand my English, having difficulty comprehending the American speech. I said it was all in the enunciation, not the pronunciation. Not sure if they understood.
But I became disappointed when they repeated the argument that Mister Putin has made, that the Ukraine was part of a historic Russia. Knowing a little bit about it, I mentioned Catherine the Great and border and territory changes through the centuries, almost twice missing my turns. Nice people, and they both shook my hand but please, Putin invading the Ukraine was unnecessary and crazy, no justification whatsoever. Just like the USA and the Philippines 1898, America and Vietnam 1959, America and Grenada 1984. America and Iraq, twice! And Afghanistan, both Russia and the USA. Will stupid governments please stop killing people! God almighty.
No In-Court Appearance
Pissed me off, getting up early only to find there is no in-person court for these dumbbell bus lane violations. For parking tickets, yes but not these. I have rescheduled for February 6th but I am weighing my options. Sick of this crap. Waste of my bloody time, and money!
Nothing Like the Seattle Police Department
As any Seattle cabbie knows all too well, there ain't no love lost between us and SPD, exemplified by the actions of one officer near the stadium when the Seahawks played the New York Jets. Sitting where I alway do, and have for years on Occidental South, this cop motions to me and other cabbies to "get moving" when no one else has cared. Other cops didn't, only him, Mister All-Powerful, not caring a second either for us or the fans needing a cab. Why should he care? Obviously no reason at all, taking a broom, sweeping away the chaff!
It's A Great Day
Yes it is, now that the ever fraudulent Kshama Sawant announced she will not seek reelection for the Seattle City Council. I of course remain unhappy that she, that great leader of the unwashed masses, voted to provide Uber and Lyft unfettered access to Seattle's taxi market, thus destroying an one hundred year-old industry. And I was there when she once pledged to support us. What a liar! What a fraud! Now she will be leading her own labor organization knocking down the hated Capitalist's Door. Ha Ha Ha! But the people we elect? Not so funny.
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