Sketchbook Cabbie

The Matchmaker and the Con

  I’m always amazed at the diversity of people’s points of view. This morning I took three parolees, after their release from San Quentin prison, from the San Rafael Bus Depot where they get dropped, to the Richmond BART Station on the other side of the bay. The talkative con next to me in the front seat said he needed three things. “Coffee, Micky-Dees and pussy.” Just as informs me, I realize the homies in the black Escalade in the next lane notice my passengers. “Yup, we free now”, the con says, “Dude’s bitch must be workin’.” He figures the driver must be a pimp. I’ll bet my con’s mother never taught him to respect women.

    In the afternoon, I picked up one of our regular customers from Safeway. The elegant Pari is a matchmaker. They call her the Queen of Hearts for the 240 marriages or long-term relationships she’s facillated. ‘It’s good karma”, she says. And I have to agree. She helps to hook people up. It’s good, respectful work. It honors people and their humanity.

    I get all kinds in my cab. I try not to judge. People’s upbringing, hardships and education shape them into who they are and how they think. I just get them where they need to go.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

The prison guard stands at his white van, decked out with handcuffs, mace, walkie talkie and other gear, looking as tough as Techno Viking. Seems like everyone over there at San Quentin Prison shaves their head. He's waiting for the six skinheads in gray sweats, that he just dropped off, to get on a bus or a taxi out of here. Then his responsibility for them would be complete till the next van full he brings to the San Rafael Depot. Despite the racist slogans peaking above the collar and the tattooed tears at the corner of the eye, these parolees seem harmless enough...intelligent, even. I figure they were in for dealing meth or gang violence. One guy asks me for the price for a trip to the Greyhound Terminal in Richmond. "I'm not cool with that", he says. Why don’t these 3 guys I’d drive over each have the $15 it would take but I know they only get a few bucks from the Department of Corrections on their release. Skinhead One leans further into the car window and adds, "Do you know where we can buy some beer and smokes," "Not at 8 in the morning," I answer. I'm beginning to feel one of these guys would easily like to slice me, fellow white guy or not. Just like Techno Cowboy Guard, I want these lads to get on the bus and off to their White Christmas Homecoming or whatever.