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
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
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