Nourished

Yesterday evening I demonstrated the N95 to a handicapped fella, explaining the many time-saving features. In particular he was excited to learn the device is free on Vodafone’s $49 Maxi plan and alighted happy he’d finally found a replacement phone.

Another grateful passenger was a 19 yo kid with no money facing a five kilometre walk to Epping Station. At 11pm he was en route to the Central Coast after a 9 hour shift at a call centre. How could I not drive him to the station - it was on my way, there was no work, what the hell.

At 1:30 am a young woman out of a finance tower fell into the front seat and dutifully ignored me for a short fare to Kings Cross. Why sit up front, I thought, only to brush me with an IPod. For some reason I recalled the Banker and a sense of dread enveloped me, though not for long. At her destination she paid the $8 fare with a $12 tip. What a gal.

A woman in radio; another in television; a Japanese business couple; an Irish lass to Manly; an Irish journalist to the inner west; some of the interesting fares from last night. Granted it was generally light and cursory contact but still, they were invigorating and positive encounters. Good for the soul, that’s cab driving.

I reflected upon this after dropping the last fare at 2:30am. He’d come from a bar after work, though wasn’t drunk, just relaxed. Relaxed enough to change seats and join me in the front after stopping for bread at a 711.

For some reason he felt compelled to justify his nocturnal routine. “I love living by myself...coming home when I want,” he said, without conviction. After establishing that I too was finishing work, was the same age and divorced, he became animated, sparking off the coincidences. But this just seemed to underline his loneliness so I changed the subject.

“Mate,” I announced, “I gotta go” and immediately felt lousy as his kindly face failed to mask the disappointment. Instead he offered a tender handshake, thanking me for possibly the only agreeable chat he’d had all night.

The bloke would enjoy driving cabs, I thought on leaving. A chance to go home happy and content, nourished by his encounters.

Once I heard the writer, Norman Mailer opine that real happiness is taking an active interest in one’s environment. Mailer also once stabbed his wife but she forgave him.

Comments

[manly cabbie]

adrian i have had a n95 for 2 weeks and i have no idea how to use most of its features i'm going to have to meet up with you to get some tips on using it but every time i call into the cafe on kings x rd all i see is your picture in the smh article but not you,ah well where bound to meet one day.

[Colin]

Adrian, You've nailed it.

It's the incidental encounters with people whose names you'll never know.

It's seeing where people go, and what mood they are in when they leave.

It's that the scenery is always changing.

That's what makes cab driving such a delight for the observant soul - it's a seat in the front row, off centre.

Plus, you very nearly quoted a line from Tom Waits in there.

[adrian]

Manly cabbie. The best tools for the N95 are found online. I use N95 Users forum; Tips and Tricks; s60 Tips; N95 Blog, just to name a few available. The best help for newbies is found at the Users forum. Have fun, the 95 is an amazing device.

Colin, you'll be amused to hear some bimbo actress just butchered an album of Tom Waits covers.

[Tom]

"Why sit up front, I thought, only to brush me with an IPod. "

Were you expecting more?

If she wanted to talk she'd take a walk.
If she wanted your meat, she'd take the seat