Therapy

People must think I have a therapist’s face; therapy as in ‘listening’. It’s the only reason I can think of for passengers initiating their personal stories, before the cab has even reached top gear. Or, maybe it’s related to last night’s full moon...

"I’ve feel wonderful," trilled a woman around forty as she buckled up. "Why ?" "Because I’m going home to a wonderful husband." Fair enough, I thought, but why tell me...was she insecure about her marriage or so in love that she wanted to tell the world. Her next statement, unprompted, held a clue.

"You know, it’s just bullshit the way the media are always going on about mothers and children. What about those of us who chose not to have a family ?" "You don’t have children ?" I asked. "No, children are too expensive," she explained. "When we had the chance we decided we liked our life as it was and children would have changed our ability to do what we wanted." "What about pets then," I asked, "you have a cat ?" She paused, then replied, "No, it died." It was hard not to feel she had some regrets.

A young fella outside a Randwick hotel got in and said, "F... John Howard." "Why, don’t like him ?" "Nah, you can’t trust those private school pricks." "No, he’s not," I said, "he went to Canterbury Boys High." "Okay, but he hangs ‘round with those pricks." I won’t bore readers with the rest of that exchange, suffice to say that by journeys end he felt happy enough to leave a small tip. Champion.

Earlier a young woman around thirty years old climbed in. After ordering a City bar she sighed heavily, then said, "I’ve just been on a date." "Oh, how did it go ?" "Well, it was our second date and.." she hesitated, "...well, he didn’t seem as attentive as the first one." "Where did you meet, on the Internet ?" "No, in a bar. It’s just so hard to meet men in Sydney." This was a common lament I often hear from attractive looking women.

I asked her, "Is he from your world ?" Not really," she said, "he’s French and a businessman and I’m an artist." "Are you sure you’re just not attracted to his exoticness ? You’re not trying to avoid ‘top blokes’, are you ?" She started laughing, "You know I hadn’t thought of that." But I suspected she had thought about it; just didn’t want to admit it.

When she related how he couldn’t dance I suggested she learn with him. "Forget the dating then, just tell him you need a partner to learn how to tango or flamenco, or whatever. That way you’ll at least gain something from your meetings."

She agreed it was good advice, thanked me and left a $2 tip for the ten minute chat. Hmm, twelve bucks per hour for listening-therapy. In that case I won’t be quitting my job.

Comments

[fred]

Full moon, hey? Guess cabbies are pretty tuned in to the lunar cycle. As a bartender, I could always tell a full moon night.

[steve at the pub]

"avoiding top blokes"? Please, can you expand on this for those of us unfamiliar with Sydney vernacular?

[Sydney Escorts]

I highly recommend flamenco

[adrian]

Steve, 'Top Blokes' explained.

[Roy]

Hey Adrian

I've used this too (www.dublintaxi.net) I really hope you don't mind, I've done a section on taxidrivers from around the world and you're it for Australia

Roy

[adrian]

Roy, check your email.

[Roy]

Hi Adrian
Got that and complied, replied to your e-mail also.
Thanks for your help in this matter.
www.dublintaxi.net