Taxi Vignettes

Around noon, on Monday the 6th of February, I was at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, better known as San Jose Airport, to pick up one of my taxi customers. I was feeling unusually nervous. My fare? NFL Ref Bill Leavy.

I knew he had several pieces of luggage so I found a cart and met him inside baggage claim. As we waited by the carousal, I asked him a few noncontroversial questions about the game.

"What did you do at half time?"

"We (the refs) sat in a room. I didn't go out and watch Mick."

"Did you get to keep the coin used for the toss?"

"No, the NFL keeps it."

"Do you have your Super Bowl Ring yet?"

"No, but it will come."

I had a fare in my Yellow Cab taxi when my phone rang. I really hate to be talking on the phone while driving especially; with a customer in the cab. But, when I saw the caller's name on the display I said, "Sorry, I have to take this call."

The call was from one of my regular riders. He was saying, "Hi, Joann I'll need you to pick me up Wednesday morning. I'm going to the Super Bowl!!!" It was referee Bill Leavy #127 and he will be the head ref this year. He lives in the Willow Glen area of San José, California. When I told my fare in the back seat (an older grey-haired senior citizen) about the call she squealed and said, "Some of the girls are getting together for a Super Bowl Party at our retirement home. Wait till I tell them I rode in the taxi that will take the referee to the airport for the big game! I feel like I know him!"

Should be a great game