Well I try not to set them off, because it's irritating as hell to be told every turn to take 'after' the ride has told me where they want to go, and I've confirmed it: "Let's go to R and 17th". I'm puzzled, as that place is all train tracks, asphalt, and winos. "Uh. What bar are you going to?" "Hanger 17". "Ok, Hanger 17, at 17 and S". "Ya; turn here. Now go all the way to S. and I'll show you". "Ok".
I really do appreciate it when a drunk passenger is able to tell me, turn by turn, how to get to his house. I have to drive to the nearest corner after I drop him off, to look myself up in the Thomas Guide, but everyone knows where he lives.
There are a couple dozen Marriott Hotels in and around Sacramento. A very serious looking 40ish couple I got out of the Raven, wanted to go to the one on Gateway Oaks, in South Natomas. There is one there, and another on what seems to be the same street, just a block up the road, and a Hilton Garden in between.
Mr. Serious wants to stop at a small store or gas station on the way. I figure the closer the better. There is a 24 hour Safeway in the same block as The Raven. No.......He wants a little store. It's after midnight. I explain that all that's open are a few gas stations, with their doors locked, and security windows for purchases, Went 7 blocks to P Street where there is a well stocked mini mart at the 76 Station, Could have gone 1 block to Chevron first, but this guy was so intense, I just wanted for him to be able to get whatever he wanted so I could get him and his silent wife to their destination quickly. He seemed to be looking to find fault with me. Well they didn't have what he wanted. So we stopped at Chevron on the way to I Street. They had it. He got it. It was in a little bag. On to I-5 and up to Garden Highway. He told me I should know all the stores, etc, because I'm a cab driver. Cab driver's are supposed to know everything. I know we didn't pass any more open stores on the way to Gateway Oaks. Each criticism he offered was followed by a week, "ya" from wifey. I'm on Gateway....and there is a hotel to the right, up a little access road. I slow down, and ask: "This one"? He says nothing. He has his arms folded over his chest. On to the next one. He says his is the Courtyard. I think we just passed it, but he didn't say anything when we did. And there is another Marriott up the street. But although I don't know for a fact it's the Residence Inn, I think it is. I pull into the Hilton Garden, seeing only the "Garden" part. Sometimes people are confused about which hotel they are in, till they see it. So I asked him if this was his hotel, and he says: "Let's just put a stop to this right now"! I stopped, turned around, and asked him whatever he meant. There was almost 25 on the meter. He informed me that I had driven right past his hotel. Wifey managed a slightly louder: "ya". I asked him why he let me drive right on by, when he knew all along that was the one. Wifey utters: "Noooo"! I just drove them over to the Courtyard, and told them I only wanted 20. I guess they wanted to prove they were smarter than a cab driver.
I know when I'm in the presence of someone smarter than I am. They don't have to tell me. And so far, none of them has. copyright 2011
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