Do you know what a jitney is? or, Tonight, I am a racist, or, 30 Pabst for me, please!

This story isn’t as good as the Sufjanesque title that I gave it.

I get off my Greyhound bus and went to look for a cab. They had all just left. So a black guy says “Hey, you looking for a cab?” I say yeah, he says come with me. So I follow him into the parking lot, expecting to be taken to a cab. Nope! It’s a regular car. I’m a little apprehensive of getting into a car with an entire stranger, so I tell him I’ll just wait for a cab. He says okay, looking a little defeated, and I leave. On the way back to the building, another guy asks if I need a ride. I say “Do you drive a cab?” and he says “I’m a jitney, I drive a cab part time.” Me: “Do you have a license?” Him: “Yeah.”

It dawns on me, this is a regular thing. Not every cab driver has a big yellow cab. And I’m going to get a ride from this white guy, and the black guy sees me, and he probably thinks I’m a giant racist.

Anyway, this cabbie is a nice guy. His name’s Ray, we talk about football and stuff, the usual. He’s an older guy, single, and drives a lot; one night, he was telling me, someone gets off the bus and asks him for a ride to New York City. Hey, it’s good pay for a day’s drive! (of course, he drove up and back in a night. Got home around 7 or 8 AM)

As I’m heading out, he says “You going to be watching the game?” I say yeah, he says, “Yeah, I am too. I’ll probably drink a six-pack. Course, back when I was your age, I’d probably drink a case or two!”

Side note: unless something unforeseen happens, I am giving blood on Tuesday! Those of you who know me well know that I have two big phobias: needles and bugs, with needles being the bigger of the two. Well, you get over your fear of heights by riding roller coasters, right? Wish me luck!


blog 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010