Taxicab Tales – Easiest $150 Ever

In the past, I have shared a series of stories from my days publishing small town newspapers, from a job I had selling cars, about my time in the Army, and some tales of the offbeat adventures and misadventures I’ve gotten into in a series called Nick Happens. Now, I thought I would share some stories about a period in my life many years ago when I drove a taxicab in Tucson, Arizona. Oh, some of the things I witnessed back then! I’ve told more than one prospective author that if they really want to learn about human nature, they need to become a cop, a nurse, or a cab driver. You will see the best and worst of people in any of those jobs.

We usually think someone would get into a taxicab because they needed a ride someplace, right? That’s not always the case, believe it or not. Here are two examples.

I was parked near the Greyhound bus station in downtown Tucson around midnight when a fellow walked up and got in the backseat, and said, “Just drive.” I asked where to, and he said, “It doesn’t matter, just drive, preferably someplace quiet.”

Immediately, my spidey sense kicked in. Was this fellow setting me up to be robbed, or worse? But he was a well-dressed man in his 40s carrying a leather briefcase, not like your common street thug who would hold up a cabdriver. He handed me a $50 bill and said, “Just someplace quiet, alright? I need to sleep.” Okay, whatever floats your boat.

I drove through some quiet neighborhoods while he stretched out on the back seat of the cab and seemed to fall asleep. As the meter rolled up miles, I was beginning to wonder what the heck was going on with this guy? Eventually the meter hit $50, and I wasn’t sure what to do, so I pulled to the curb and leaned over the seat and asked, “Okay, now what?” He sat up and blinked his eyes a couple of times, asked me what time it was, and then handed me two more $50s and said, “Just keep driving.” Okay, why not? I drove up through the foothills and meandered through the north side of town, keeping the radio turned low so the dispatcher wouldn’t wake Sleeping Beauty.

When the meter rolled up another $100, I again pulled to the curb and woke him. He asked where we were, and I told him, and he gave me an address near the University of Arizona. When we got there, he got out and said, “Thanks, I needed that” and went into a house. It was the last I saw of him, and I still don’t know what was going on, but it was the easiest $150 I ever made.

I also had another gentleman who would call and ask for me a couple of times a month, and all he wanted to do was drive around and talk. He told me about his marriage, which seemed to be rocky, about problems with his teenage son who was into drugs, and how he hated his job, but the pay was very good. We’d usually do this for an hour or so, and then he’d ask me to take him home. One day I asked him why he was doing what he was doing, and he said that he was overstressed and overworked and sometimes he just needed to vent. He said I was a good listener, and the cab meter only came up to $16 an hour, while a therapist cost him $100 for the same time.

I’m glad I could help him save some money and hopefully having someone to talk to who didn’t judge or argue with him was worth it.

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And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – Don’t tell a person to be strong when they come to you to be weak.