It was totally silly, really. I was afraid I was going to forget everything. Like, where streets were, and how meters worked, and how to drive(uhh, what?). Silly. And I would keep telling myself that I was going to go back and then when the time came, I would chicken out.
Enough was enough, and I decided no more excuses. I needed to get back behind the wheel. I had a panic attack the morning I was going, but I forced myself out the door. I figured at least it would be an easy day since it was Columbus day. And honestly, once I drove for a little while, I was fine, just like logical Me knew I would be. I just took a while to get emotional Me to shut up.
I got to the garage, and because it was a holiday a lot of drivers also took the day off. I had my pick of cabs, and for once, actually picked one that didn't suck. I decided to head to the airport since I got an early start and I knew a lot of people would be coming back from the holiday weekend.
I didn't have to wait long at the airport and got a nice easy fare into the city. Once there, things were fairly steady with a lot of people coming home from the weekend. And it didn't take long for me to be back in the groove.
The night was fairly uneventful. I did have one nutjob lady. She was making conversation, and every time she asked a question, i answered it in what I thought was a pretty clear response, but no matter what I said, she didn't understand. I don't know where she was from. But it wasn't here. Maybe something englandish(I know that is not a real word, just go with it)? She had an odd accent that I had a hard time placing. She also had no idea how New York City worked. Like, she thought Sutton Place was near Staten Island. And when I got her to her destination, she was so befuddled by how the credit card system worked in the back. Even with me walking her through it step by step. Very strange woman. At least when I dropped her off, there was another fare waiting.
It slowed down after about 11. By that point, people who were traveling were already home, and not many people went out. It wasn't dead, but it wasn't busy. I did end up in the Bronx twice which was unusual. I rarely go to the Bronx.
At least in my traveling that night, I got to see some of the very hyped up Banksy work over by Cooper Union. So that was pretty cool. Drove by it a few times, and usually a group of people there to take a look. I just wish they didn't choose to stand in the middle of the street where i needed to drive.
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| Snapped a pic of some Banksy work on E.7th and Bowery |
My first fare was a very nice man who had a little Jack Russell Terrier who I learned was 14 years old and on his way home from his cancer treatments. And he was mad at the world for the injections he had to have. He was barking at every person and car we passed. I was amazed at how feisty he was. The man told me he was his best buddy and he was pretty upset about this little guys illness. It was kinda hard to not cry. He was very nice, and apologetic about his ferocious companion, but I told him I was a dog lover and was always happy to have a furry passenger. He ended up leaving me a pretty generous tip for taking him and the dog. I hope that Bandit gets better. He's got a lot of life left in him!
After dropping off Bandit and his owner, I didn't stop. Like I said, it was busy. I didn't ever go more than a few minutes without a passenger. And it was a good night in other ways as well. No nutjobs, no nasty people, and for once, I had people who gave nice tips. Like, really nice tips. You would think that would happen more as a female driver, but it doesn't. So I was pretty happy with Tuesday. Even got a few fares in Brooklyn after dropping people off there.
At the end of my second shift, I was back in full swing. I didn't forget where streets were(at least where I couldn't figure it out with GPS), I didn't forget how to work the meter. It was a lot of anxiety and stress over nothing. And I missed it. I really did. Even over the summer when I was up in the country at a place I love to be, I was a little missing it. I really love the city, and being behind the wheel of one of the machines that keeps it moving is the best way to live in it.
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| More Banksy. |
