Serving the community.

I have seen diatribes against cab drivers. They describe us as peter pans, never wanting to grow up or have a real job. That we want to extract every dollar out of our passengers, through any devious means possible.

I think that there are those types of men in almost any profession. I chose as my mentor someone that took a different path. He went the extra mile and became charitable to some degree. When he is on vacation, he has had me take care of some of his "special needs" passengers. That's what he calls them anyway.

One such woman is an 87 year old, on the brink of being institutionalized. Her building manager wants to make her leave because he believes she cannot take care of herself anymore. She drinks. Not too long ago she apparently fell and they had to break her chain on the door to help her. That prompted them to call the cab driver. I went along for the ride. I argued on her behalf with the manager and ulti9mately the owner. We agreed we would have her checked on to have a determination made as to her capacity.

Ultimately she would just as soon move as to be in that hell-hole anyway. I am going to try and find her a new place to live that is within her budget.

It is not unusual for a wheel chair bound MS patient to call me to pick up smokes or wine for her. Today we went to the bank with her in the car, but often I just bring her the stuff she needs. It works out best for both of us time wise. But she does like to get out of the house once in a while.