Lucky Charm or Agent of Mischief??

So months ago, I met Bre, the coolest girl to ever work at county hospital. Since then, we have become great friends. She expressed an interest in what I do and asked if she could ride along with me in my cab. I told her that sounded like fun.

Well, this passed Thursday I made her dream come true. She was with me for 10 hours of my 14 hour shift. And now, worse than ever, she thinks I'm crazy and that I have the craziest job. And she's right.

Our first fare was to SFO, as was our second fare. On clearing the second time, we witnessed a man on a bicycle get T-Boned by a motorcycle in the city in traffic. We both looked at each other and couldn't believe it.

The crashing sound was so loud. I pulled over and Bre had a bystander call 911 while I ran to the byciclist who was completely laid out face first on the pavement. There was a large pool of blood where his head was and i knew this wasn't good. There was no movement, what so ever. I knelt down and yelled, "Sir, can you hear me. Sir, wake up," into his ear.

For about a minute, he didn't breathe at all. Then out of nowhere, his back raises and I hear the biggest gasp for air I have ever heard. I kept trying to talk to him hoping he could hear, even if he couldn't respond.

"Sir, you have just been in an accident. Can you talk?"

His palm was open facing up so I put mine on his and told him to squeeze if he heard me. I got the slightest response out of him. I didn't want to move him at all but there was nothing we could do til medics got there. And they took forever. And they got lost. Ya know, those one way streets. Lol

When they did arrive, Bre and I took off.

We got several other fares after that. Our last one was quite memorable, in that I kicked him out of the cab and left him in downtown Hercules.

Out of nowhere, he got physically violent and started swearing for no reason. It took me by surprise, but I stayed calm and didn't lose it, myself.

"Hey bro, I got a lady here and she doesn't appreciate your language at all. Can you please be quiet and I'll have you home in a few minutes?"

"EXPLETIVE EXPLETIVE EXPLETIVE!!!!!"

"Woah Bro! Get out of my cab right now. You have crossed the line to completely uncalled for and I'm over and done with you. You have scared her and you have totally pissed me off."

"I paid for the ride. You have to take me home. *enter Ebonics here*"

"No, county hospital paid for the ride and it's my right to kick you out at any point. Now get the Hell out of my cab or I'm gonna call the cops."

Right when I was about to show him my fixed blade 6 inch, he bailed. I didn't wanna show it, but I felt I needed to.

I asked Bre if she was really actually scared. She said no, but it sounded good and it was a good excuse.

Thanks Bre for riding with me. I had fun. Is there anything I forgot to mention? Lol


“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19

Dementia rides in the backseat...

So, I'm dispatched to county hospital in Martinez to pick up a patient and take her to Campbell, near San Jose. I shall call her 'Norma," really nice, sweet, old lady. Nothing is out of the norm 'til we hit Danville on 680. And she asks me if we could make a pit stop to use a restroom. With county hospital vouchers, we are not supposed to make any stops. But since this is an hr long drive, I feel I need to have a little compassion towards her. So I pull into the nearest eatery off the freeway, a KFC. She goes inside and I wait in my cab. Instead of heading to the restroom at the back of the building, I see her standing at the counter as if she's having a friendly conversation with the employees.

This is no time for chit chat. So I am wondering what is going on. A few minutes later, a Kentucky Fried Woman comes out and says that:

"The old lady doesn't feel safe in the cab with you. She feels threatened by you and she feels      trapped in your taxi."

This pit stop was simply an excuse for me to let her out of the cab. She somehow thinks I'm dangerous and that I'm gonna hurt her. She doesn't trust me.

At this point, I am wondering where this all came from. She was fine 10 minutes ago. Apparently, she had started spacing out and forgetting where we were, where we were going and who I was.

I am not gonna be able to convince this lady that I am a safe and reliable driver and the KFC employee couldn't convince her of it either. Or, for that matter, remind her of her own name. 

So her and I came up with a plan. Call 911 and request a welfare check. 

10 minutes later, a very smart capable officer pulls up. I tell him my side of the story and he assures me that he can get her back into the cab.

Low and behold, he did it! We are now back on the road and she knows who I am and where she lives. 

A little while later, she says, "where are we? Are you taking me out to the boonies to let me die?"

Wait! What! This time, when she forgot what's going on I knew her situation. A serious case of dementia. So I simply reminded her of everything since the hospital.

I said, "Ma'am, I'm the cab driver. I picked you up in martinez and I am taking you home to Campbell. You just had a long talk with a police officer and he promised you that I would take care of you and get you home safely. Do you remember the conversation with the cop?"

"No, I don't remember talking with anyone."

Oh My Gosh! "Norma, you are just gonna have to trust me. Okay?"

As we pull onto her street, she says, "this doesn't look right at all."

I know we are close, because I definitely trust my gps more than people. And it's telling me that we are right in front of her complex. I ask her "is that one it? Is this where you live?"

"Oh yes! This is my house." 

Two hours later, I'm clear. When it should have been only one hour.

Cab driving is like a box of chocolates. Ya never know what you're gonna get.

I don't get paid anything more to deal with these things. I get paid to drive. But I have to trust Him when He sends me these out of the norm trials. 


“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19

Long Time, No See

Hey guys, sorry for not posting in such a long time; quite rude of me.

So, tonight, I went to pick up at County Hospital in Martinez and while waiting for my passenger, I got to talking with a very nice lady at the front desk. We quickly learned that we are both Christians and she encouraged me greatly and reminded me of a few things that I have recently forgotten, like treating my customers as Christ would. Especially when they do not treat me likewise.

Bre, if you are reading this - Thank you and God Bless You! I will be praying for your struggles with patients.

Live as Christ lived,


“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19

...It looked like Christmas Morning!

So, I am sitting in my cab, parked at Farringtons Bar in Pleasant Hill. Rear-right door opens and this very drunk guy stumbles inside. This is how it went down.

Him "I wanna go to Santa Cruz."
Me "Sounds great. I'm going to need cash up front. I figure about 180-200 dollars."
Him "I have money. Just go."
Me "Sir, I can't leave without a sizable amount of money now."
Him "I have thousands of dollars. Just trust me."
Me "If you don't show me money, I will have to ask you to step out and find another taxi."
Him "Ok, fine. Here."

He hands me many bills totaling 30 to 40 dollars. Most were ones.

I finally asked him "do you really want to go to Santa Cruz?"
Him "Yeah, Santa Cruz in walnut creek."
Me "Wait, what? Walnut Creek? Why didn't you say so. Let me get your driver's license so I can get your address." I often ask for a D.L. if they are quite inebriated. It makes things easier. I just wish I had gotten it much earlier in this particular situation.

I get his address, which is an apartment complex off Treat Blvd. The meter runs to 8 dollars. He hands me a $100 bill and says "keep it." I was pretty happy.

He got out and I drove off. I went back to Farrington's to see if I could get myself another hundred dollar bill. After I parked, I looked in the backseat. Guess what I found. I see 421 dollars in cash strewn all over the backseat of my cab. He had enough cash to get from here to Santa Cruz and back and he left it in my taxi. It looked like Christmas morning.

The problem was there was no way I could possibly find him after leaving him at a very large apartment complex. So I gave all the money to my boss. He told me if no one claimed it in a week, it's mine. Odds of him calling were slim, seeing as how drunk he was. I didn't think he would even remember taking a cab home. In the end, the money was mine. He was the drunkest person I have ever seen and that was the biggest accidental tip I have ever gotten by far.


“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19

They're after me...HELP!

With this job, you can never be certain about anything. With any passenger, safety can go right out the window. I've had people who are quite off their rocker and done to much of this or that in the 60's. I picked up a guy just like that at County Psych.

First off, I get there and 3 County Sheriffs are around him. I'm thinking "great, this will be interesting." As I walk up, one officer pulls me aside and says that "he is unstable." Huh! Say What? Then he mentions that he will be following behind me in his police cruiser on the way to Concord Bart, where I am dropping him. So, we got on the road; with the cop close behind.

Let me try and describe this guy for you. He was sitting in the back of my 4-door Lincoln Town car constantly, insistently looking through the rear-window at "something." He couldn't sit his butt in the seat for four seconds in a row. I have never seen paranoia like this before. He was trippin' out. He told me that someone was following us so I curiously looked in the mirror. A few cars but nothing out of the ordinary. I keep driving. All of a sudden, he says "Hello, 911, I have 3 gangmembers following me. I'm in a taxi. I am a gang dropout." That last part, "gang dropout" wasn't what I wanted to hear. So I look in the mirror some more. None of the same cars are behind us which is good. Including the cop. He is nowhere in sight.

At this point, I am not freaking out but definitely frustrated that he bailed on me when I needed him most. I figured that he got a call more important than sticking with me. At this time, the patient is still on the phone with 911 dispatch describing three vehicles that are following us. I let off the gas a bit to see if these cars will pass us. One of them had two passengers consisting of Grandma and Grandpa. I had to chuckle to myself after seeing that. This guy is not right in the head.

He ended up staying on the phone on our arrival to Concord Bart. As I put my Cab in park, he says to the dispatcher "can I have you talk to my taxi driver?" This is exactly what I wanted to hear. I took the phone from him and told her my side of the story without saying more than I wanted him to hear. She instructed me to proceed to Concord Police Department which is less than a quarter of a mile away. She told me that officers would meet me there and they would deal with him.

When I pulled up, two cops were waiting. My passenger got out and started telling his story to one of them while I told mine to the opposite. When I told him, he could do nothing but laugh a little and roll his eyes.

After exiting the P.D. parking lot, I never heard what happened with him. But I have to hope he got the help he desperately needed. I am glad that my Father provided me the strength to remain calm throughout the fare and ultimately resolve the situation safely. Whoever I pick in my cab, I always try to remember to pray for them when they get out. In the minutes I have them, is enough time to learn something about them. This gives me the desire to pray for them in some way.

Try praying for a random person you meet this week. Pray for them with love.

Joe Dimaggio and a side of egg

Tonight, I picked up Joe Dimaggio's grandson and someone egged my cab.

That is all,


“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19

Christ's love

I have alot of problems with County Hospital in Martinez. This trip gave me more reason to be angry and annoyed with them. I picked up a man, John Wallace, about 70 years old with an extreme speech impediment. For him to tell me anything, he had to write it down. Plus he's in a wheel chair, so at every stop, I have to get the chair out of the back of the cab, get him in it, then push him because he can't do it himself.

The nurse gave me a voucher with instructions to take him to Wells Fargo to get cash, then to a motel where he would spend the night. The voucher had the addresses of both the bank and motel. We get to the bank, which happens to be a Nob Hill grocery store and the bank is just an ATM Machine. My passenger tells me he needs a real bank because he doesn't have a debit card, but only his I.D. First thing I thought was "Thanks County Hospital, for giving me the first address you found, instead of finding out your patient's needs." Since I don't know where the next nearest bank is, I radioed dispatch and asked them to find it for me. It ended up being five blocks from the hospital instead of two miles, where the atm was. I was a little heated but there's more. After we got his money, he told me wanted to stop for some cigarettes on the way to the motel. Instead of getting him out of the cab and into his wheel chair, I went in for him and bought them. The motel ended up being across the street.

Once we got there, I learned of another thing the hospital should have done. They were apparently supposed to make arrangements for a room for him before I ever even picked him up. I talked to the lady at the front desk and she said he didn't make reservations and they do not have any rooms for disabled persons at this time. I asked the lady, "what should I do? I am a cab driver. I can't take him to my house."

I told John that they couldn't take him. He wrote down on paper that if I got him to the Amtrak station He could get to his son's house. Since this part of the trip is off the voucher it becomes his responsibility to pay for the cab. The trip there is only 5 to 6 dollars, so I did it for free.

The County Hospital Personnel only does what they are required to do so that they don't get into trouble. Patients cannot expect anything more.

By the way, this voucher was only worth 10 dollars and pick up to drop off took an hour and a half. Whenever I pick up someone that needs more maintenance than most and takes longer and causes more difficulty, I think to myself "what if this person had gotten a different driver?" Would they treat them the same? I feel that these calls are given to me for a reason. That when I get someone who needs special attention, I must show them Christ's love as best I can.

“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19