Last night I gave a ride to the ERA for someone I had picked up at the ERA months ago. He too suffers from CHAP as well as a number of related ailments. I am afraid his treatment is not going as well as mine did. I really think riding with me to the ER helped alleviate his anxiety over what may have been going on. The queue to get in the ER was too long, so he stayed to get his vitals and had me bring him home. As we were talking, we traded warstories. Talking to him I realized how extremely fortunate I am to have had my condition remiss for the most part. He is still suffering from edema and carries an oxygen tank with him. I am not a psychologist, but am very intuitive, and believe he is in a bit of depression as well. I discussed possibly meeting with a therapist as well as rehab. He is going to visit a nursing home for a month or so, and hopefully he will get some of the services I suggested. I also gave him my card to call me some afternoon. I told him that some nice spring day to call me and I will take him out and take a drive - not as a paid driver, but as a comrade in arms. He said he will.
Months ago I heard about a legendary obese woman with two hateful and obese daughters that lived down the road from me. Every time I got a call on that particular street, I shuddered that it may be "them". Sunday it happened. Actually I picked up a sweet woman with edemic legs and her 8 year old son. She was visiting her daughter in juvenile hall. I noticed the woman's legs were severely swollen. As she talked about her daughter, I realized this was the woman in question. Her other daughter stays closer to the "hood" on the weekends. This woman suffers from kidney disease and needs to be helped out of her chair to walk, due to bad knees. Her husband left the family 4 years ago, apparently unable to cope with her physical problems and their daughters emotional ones. I gave her my card and have since taken her to Dialysis as well as a buffet. My only true charitable act so far has been a "gimme" fare to get Crickets for the boy's lizards. She asked how much it would cost to go to the pet store, after his insistent requests that first Sunday. I said I would do it for $5. It should have been a $13 fare.
I used to be pretty quick to offer free rides in special cases, but one such customer cussed me out because of it. I was surprised. This particular woman had had a very bad day. She was to have a day off from taking care of her ailing alzheimer's patient, mother in law. She was let down by her daughter and had to take a last minute cab to go and care for her. She had planned a nice sunny afternoon of beer and friends across town. It took an hour for a cab to get her. I was that cab. I could tell she was having a bad day as her story unfolded. She made sure her anger at the cab delay wasn't directed at me personally, but at the company for underestimating the wait time. When I got to her home, I said to her "Ma'am, a lot has not gone right for you today, and there is very little I can do to change that, but I can offer you a free ride". She refused. When I asked her why, she said she could afford the ride, and that for me to "frivolously" give away rides like that was not fair to the other drivers that cannot afford to give up one single dollar. When I explained I only work part time and only need a part time income, she repeated her stance. I understood. When I am quick to discount random riders, they may grow accustomed to getting those deals, and try to take advantage of my fellow hacks. Now I only give discounts to my regular riders and make sure they know it is because of their repeated business with me. That is okay, she said. But to offer a freebee to a first time rider like that should not be common. It is not uncommon for some riders to negotiate a fare up front. That is a different story. That gives the driver and rider an equal footing. If a fare negotiation is not reached the ride does not take place.
On a rainy Saturday night, a young man flagged me down and told me he only had $7 and his friend had left him downtown, and had probably driven home drunk. When I asked him how far he had to go, I realized it was quite more further than $7 would normally take him. I told him I would take him home. It was late, time for me to kick off anyway. He was very grateful. Once an extremely drunken pair were leaving a bar. One wanted to take a cab, the other argued about money to pay. Neither should have driven, but the one that wanted to drive was belligerent. I told them, as a public service to Lexington I would drive them the few blocks to their home for free. On the way, I explained that service was part of the reason I started driving. When we go to the house, I was given $5 anyway. I picked up someone on the outskirts when I was on my way in to town. He was going my way. About halfway there, he said he had to be honest with me. He only had $5 and that I could put him out if I wanted. I told him I appreciated his honesty, and wished he had explained that up front, but that I would continue with him in his cab.
There is an 87 year old woman. She likes to go have a drink once and again. She needs cigarettes, and to go to the bank. I have taken her on several of these trips. They have grown to be a weekly meeting on Saturday afternoons. We go to lunch, pick up some of her needs, and she'll ride around in the cab with me if I get some calls. Both of us look forward to Saturday afternoons. I have stopped charging her, but she insists on paying me. But often if she asks me if she has paid me yet, I just say yes. Afterall, she usually has bought my lunch by then. A few weeks ago, her landlord had decided she needed to move. He felt she could no longer take care of herself. Another cabby yenta got the call. He has known the woman for years. I was introduced to her when he was going on vacation. We went to bat for the woman. I said I would get someone in there to make an evaluation on her. It turns out, she fell in her apartment and cried out for help. The neighbors had to break her chain to help her. In my "discussion" with the building owner I made the statement. "you want to throw an old woman out on the street because her neighbors do not want to help her when she cries out"? and "Instead of throwing an old woman out on the street, I am surprised you are not more concerned with replacing the rusty cast iron sinks and poor wiring". I made vague references to my friends downtown. Not idle comments, as I do have friends on the fair housing board. She doesn't have to move yet. But I think she wants to. No one should have to live where they are not wanted. She has not been there long, and would just as soon live elsewhere. So we are looking for something else.
Shoot, this seems like it is just a bunch of stories about what a good guy I am. I did not mean it to be that. I think I am actively helping like this because I recognize how lucky I am, and how we are only on this planet for a short time. What we do makes a difference. I have always preferred direct charity to the anonymous check writing that is more convenient and modern. I was helped when I was in need and I think I want to make sure I pass on the Samaritan spirit while I am able. I just hope my crowing about it here does not diminish from the acts.
[...driving by in the Red Car...]
Kronick
aka Kevin 3.1
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