I’m thankful when I turn on the ignition that I’ve been listening to blues tonight
August 27th, 2008
“Son of a bitch, you’re running up the meter!”27 comments
August 20th, 2008
"Hey bro, remember me? You wrote that story about me in the paper."3 comments
August 13th, 2008
“It’s the Californians, man, the Californians are the worst.”15 comments
August 6th, 2008
The middle-aged man I picked up at Vendetta is in a hyperactively verbose lather ...0 comments
July 23rd, 2008
When I step into the obese old woman's apartment5 comments
July 16th, 2008
The obese old woman at Fred Meyer has a bad hip and a wheelchair...8 comments
July 9th, 2008
“...I need to take a shower first and wash all of this blood off.”6 comments
July 2nd, 2008
“So I’ve got these two women in the back of my cab who just refuse to get out...”8 comments
June 25th, 2008
“My friend’s getting divorced, and he’s really drunk,” says the bartender...8 comments
June 18th, 2008
There’s nothing like a good Friday night, and I’m referring to the money.3 comments
[March 5th, 2008]
I’m thankful when I turn on the ignition that I’ve been listening to blues tonight, and not something more manic. The guy in paper hospital pants and flip-flops who I’ve just picked up from Adventist is mumbling to himself, and looks and smells like he hasn’t seen soap since the Reagan era. The last thing I want to do is upset him. All I need to do is shoot down 102nd to a dive motel on Sandy and have him sign a voucher so the hospital can pay for the trip.
After three minutes, I’ve almost forgotten him until the song changes and Howlin’ Wolf begins moaning about how he asked for water and she brought him gasoline.
“Manamax!” comes a scream from the back seat, and I’m literally jolted upright.
“Huh?”
“She brought me gasoline AND AN AX!” he shrieks, and begins laughing hysterically.
“Oh,” I say. “OK.”
“OK,” I think to myself. “You’re stuck in a car with an insane man who’s currently laughing like the Joker at the hilarious idea of an ax being present. This is really happening, but it’s fine, because you’re going to be cool, drive him to his motel, and get him the fuck out of your car.”
That’s exactly what I do. The man looks forlornly around the empty parking lot, before wandering under an eave to get out of the rain.
“This where you’re staying?” I call out the window.
“I think so,” he grumbles.
“Well, good luck.” My tires squeal as I leave.
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RECENT COMMENTS ON “I’m thankful when I turn on the ignition that I’ve been listening to blues tonight”
Set the Controls for San Francisco. 1970 - The Fillmore.
Was he, perchance, screaming "Mandrax"?
Ye Gods, how the certifiably crazy passengers can creep a cab driver out. Most are harmless enough, but man...maniacal cackling about an ax...that's pretty over the top.
Ever pick ...
Exactly, Neck Ed. Had to be.
Man, you have no luck with men in paper pants. If I were you, I'd would avoid them when at all possible.
