As a taxi driver I must sometimes put on a different hat. My public personality shifts from ride to ride. I must be able to change my personae to identify with the passenger and the situation.
The call was at the Left Bank. A chic little place located at Santana Row. It is billed as an authentic Parisian-style brasserie, though I think the guys I picked up there were only interested in the bar. Santana Row has many topnotch restaurants, but the guys wanted to have dinner at Steamer's Grillhouse in Los Gatos.
Somehow seven, shall we say, happy guys managed to get themselves seat belted into my cab. This was the type of situation that called for me to don my party hat. As we were passing the Hotel Valencia the doorman came running toward me calling, "Can you pick up a fare?" My back windows are tinted so he couldn't see the gang inside. I yelled back, "No, only room for one more person, and it would have to be a woman!" I was trying to be silly for the guys, but it got a much better reaction than was warranted. Their howling was painful. The doorman looked aghast.
The meter was at $26.00 when we reached Steamers. I was handed two 20's and told, "Just keep it." Nice tip, but the nice tip required that I couldn't refuse their request to come back in a few hours.
When my wireless went off at 10pm it was time to put the taxi driver hat back on. I was more than happy when we got back to the Hotel Valencia. Each fellow tumbled out, but I was poised to keep them on their feet. As I nudged them at that same apprehensive doorman, they assured me they would be fine because they had rooms at the hotel.
I drove off with more than just another $40 in my pocket, I drove off feeling proud of my guys. They were loud, they were crude, but smart enough to take care of themselves. The boys were so good, I didn't even need to put my wife hat on.
I got my first computer early in the Summer of 2004, and began blogging almost immediately. Thanks to blogging I have been a part of several newspapers and online blogs. By that August I was featured in the lead story of the Tech Section in the San José Mercury News. Then what a pleasant surprise it was to find that my blog, "Taxi Vignettes" was the reason I was chosen as the best local blogger of the year (2006) by the Metro Newspaper. Fall of '06, I was contacted by a reporter, asking if I would be willing to be the topic of her next story in The Willow Glen Resident. It was a cool two pages including photos. Am I having fun yet?
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Comments (3)
I love those kinds of drunks. They don't puke(!) and they always tip good.
It may take 24 hours, or so, until your hearing returns, though.
Posted by Paradise Driver | Tuesday, June 5, 2007 2:21 AM
Posted on June 5, 2007 2:21 AM
Hi Joann
i'm a Taxi driver in Dublin Ireland and i've used tis content on my site, you can view it by clicking my name , or by visiting the site @ www.dublintaxi.net
I've credited the content to you and linked back to your site.
i hope this is ok
Great site by the way
Roy
Posted by Roy | Monday, June 11, 2007 8:13 PM
Posted on June 11, 2007 8:13 PM
Thanks Roy, for the link.
Posted by Joann | Monday, June 11, 2007 8:34 PM
Posted on June 11, 2007 8:34 PM