The life of a chauffeur has many “U-turns” – meaning that every day, I expect the unexpected. This makes my job interesting. No day is exactly like another.
Many times, I have started my day thinking I had three rides and they were spaced three hours apart. This can quickly change to four or five rides, spaced two hours apart. Strangely, I like this unpredictability and rapidly changing schedule, due to changed travel plans, cancelled flights and other scheduling reasons.
Sometimes, one ride that seems to be relatively simple and straight forward can become complicated and very interesting.
U-Turn
In mid-August, I picked up two passengers in Flemington, NJ for their flight to Lisbon, Portugal. After I put their luggage into the back of my SUV, I welcomed the wife to have a seat and make herself comfortable in my SUV, while her husband locked up the house and closed the garage door.
She proudly showed me her passport card that she had gotten for her and her husband. I told her I had never seen one before. She told me this credit card size laminated card is as good as a passport. I said, “That’s news to me.”
The husband then walked out, and I helped him into my vehicle. He didn’t say a word to me the whole trip, but I didn’t mind. He reminded me of a cartoon character from The Simpson’s.
After about an hour, we got to Newark Airport, where I unloaded their luggage onto the curb after helping them out of my SUV. They did not give me a tip, but that was OK. I never expect a tip, but I am always grateful when I receive one.
After I pulled away from Terminal A and was about to exit Newark Airport, the passenger called me to ask if I could do a U-turn and pick them up from the airport. As it turned out, her wallet size, driver’s license size passport card is not valid for air or sea travel; it is only valid for road or rail travel.
Because of this, they needed me to drive them home to get their passports and return to Newark Airport. “No Problem!” I said, and we were on our way back to Flemington.
We made the trek back to their house, where the wife picked up both passports and we were back at Newark Airport in record time, and they made their flight to Halifax, Novia Scotia, Canada.
Ironically, on the second trip back to Newark Airport, after our U-turn, the husband was very friendly and talkative. When I wished them a Bon Voyage for the second time, the husband gave a very generous $20 tip!
Empty Threat
Another couple I drove was having a knock-down, drag out battle in the back seat of my SUV. The husband finally said to his wife: “If you don’t shut up, I’m going to tell our driver to turnaround and bring me home so you can go on this trip to hell by yourself.”
I said “yikes” to myself and was fearful for a moment, but I soon realized the husband was simply making an empty threat. We made it to Newark Airport safely. The husband gave me a $10 tip and thanked me for putting up with their nonsense. I smiled and said, “thank you.”
The moral of this Street Story is to be flexible in life. Roll with the punches and welcome change. It actually makes life more fun and interesting. So, the next time life throws you a curve ball, take a U-turn and smile.
