When Dispatched to a nursing home to take Peter home, I assumed I was taking a senior citizen home from a visit. Instead, a man about my age was escorted to my cab (#134) by a nurse. One of his legs was exposed to show several metal rods coming out of his leg, all attached to some type of brace. Once we loaded Peter, his leg, and his TWO bags of pills in the car, Paul asked if I had picked up any cigarettes for him. My negative reply did not make Peter happy. It was then I realized that Peter spoke as if he was recently given a lobotomy. Well, I guess if he had a lobotomy, it could have been administered long ago. Unfortunately, we had to make two stops on the long ride to his apartment, one for coffee and one for cigarettes. My biggest fear at the moment came true when Peter asked of I could help him in his apartment when we got there. He had mentioned how he really missed home since his leg surgery. When we stepped in the apartment, I was immediately sad for Peter. It was not a place most of us would look forward to getting to. But to Peter, this was home. His place. His stuff. It is all relative, I guess.
After stopping at the first building I could find with a sink ( Speedway Gas) to wash my hands, I was ready for more.
I did have to let Peter know that he could not smoke in the car. I may as well have let him light-up. I smelled like smoke! I was in the cab garage/lounge for about five minutes in the morning. There were four people there, each smoking 2 cigarettes at a time. It was enough time for the smoke to invade my clothes without warning. I am beginning to appreciate the Illinois smoking band in bars and restaurants. The problem with bars is that now I can smell the dirty beer tap lines as well as the clientele. I still suggest, however, that comedy clubs were funnier when the rooms were more a bit smoke-filled.
Being Christmas Eve, I was blessed with several airport runs. BACK TO THE TAXI LOT FOR ME! On this day, I actually went into the restaurant in the lot. I guess it is more of a take-out joint unless you want to stand along the window like a good Chicago hot dog stand lets you. My observation of the day was the eclectic menu. Would it surprise you that they serve hamburgers, Polish, kabobs, and a “Pakastani” ???
One of the short runs of the day was taking a furry guy named Buddy to the Whole Foods grocery store in Hinsdale. It was at that moment when a cab delivers its fare to the destination and exchanges currency with the customer that Buddy decided to ask me why Science has such a hard time believing in the Christmas Story. It would have been an interesting discussion I am sure, but I wanted him OUT. I also needed a bathroom.
Speaking of bathrooms: When driving a cab, one benefits from pre-planning any liquid intake.
On tipping and gratuities: There is no correlation between the size of one’s house and how well he/she tips.
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