Taxi Vignettes

I was in a turn lane at the airport waiting for the cement truck in front of me to go. I needed to get into the passenger pick up area of terminal C, but the guy wasn't turning even though he could have done so safely several times. I was just about to lay on the horn, when he jumped down. Walking back to me holding a clipboard, I figured he was going to let me in on some mechanical problem, he came up to my window. Mr.Cement pointed to a piece of paper and asked, "Do you know the way to terminal B?" I wanted to ask him if I looked like I wouldn't know. The thing is a humongous piece of 'how could anyone miss it' construction, but I just said, "Sure."

As I was explaining the route, I could see the panic expressed on his face, I knew he was lost. Plan B - He jumped at my suggestion to escort him over to the new terminal. It was not an easy task to pull ourselves back into traffic. I worried that his big truck might not fit under some of the obstacles we would encounter, so it took ingenuity on my part to get the big guy there without major damage to his truck or a structure. We went places we had no business going.

When we came up to a traffic light, that is only used for the work trucks, I motioned for him to stop. I was blocking traffic but I had to get one of the hard hats over to me. After some horn honking a guy finally came over. "Hi, I have a cement truck for you." The man almost kissed the hood of my cab saying, "We have been waiting for it, thanks." He manually switched the light to green and pointed the cement truck though. The trucker gave ma a thank you toot- toot.

I took my good deed points and got myself back for my incoming customers as fast as the speed limit would allow.

Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is big name for our airport so I'll just refer to it as SJC.

SJC is adding a long needed new terminal but it is not easy dealing with the construction, and it will only get worse. The hardest part for us, the taxicabs, will be the changes to the roads and to the areas where we park to pick up our customers.

The final steel beam was hoisted into place to complete the steel frame of its new North Concourse, terminal B, and I was invited to attend. I met San José mayor Chuck Reed and former United States Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta. It was cool to sign my name on the final steel beam along with the visiting dignitaries.