I admit, it was one hell of a change from the upper-middle-class life I'd grown up in. But I was actually learning something about Real Life along the way, so I stuck it out. It took only a few years before I was one of the 'old-timers' in the company, and with the increase in status came better cabs, hours, and fares. It even got to the point where I was able to lease my rig, and pretty much set my own hours; and I'd developed something of a 'regular clientele' that would ask for me by name. Other times, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time to basically just fall into some pretty unique situations.

I've been at this job for a long time, now, and I'd like to pass along some of the experiences I've had along the way. Not so much to 'brag', but to let people know what can happen if you're willing to be 'open' to new experiences – and maybe teach folks some of what I've learned about Life, the Universe, and Everything as Douglas Adams put it.

It was a Tuesday night and getting toward the end of my shift, and I got a call from central that one of my regular fares, a lady by the name of Edith, had called for me. I'd gotten to know her a little bit, and knew that it was the right time of the year for her to be working late on some quarterly report she had to do; when I'd dropped off my previous fare, I'd found a spot not far from the office building she worked, so that I'd be handy if she needed a ride home; if she didn't the spot I was in was pretty good for picking up another fare, so I had my bases covered.

I ten-foured the dispatch, and made my way to where I knew she'd be waiting for me – only to be surprised to see her waiting with a guy. Not that it was any of my business, of course, but I'd never heard her talk about boyfriends or going out with guys or anything like that. So, like I said, I was surprised. I get parked, and the guy has to help her out to my cab; I see them coming, and I get out and open the door for them. He gets her in the back seat, I close the door, and get back behind the wheel. The guy asks "You know where she lives, right?"