I know that, from a historical standpoint, taxicabs are best known for transporting home the intoxicated. The day shift I work on doesn't feature many of these (unless we discount last Thursday). The night shift is loaded with them, and that constitutes 40% of our business.
What I don't like are the haphazard, out-of-control drunks. They resemble someone on drugs who needs their "fix" three or four times daily.
A prime example occurred tonight. Two guys staggered over to the cab, probably kicked out of the bar they were in because they would no longer serve them. Before they went home, I took them to the party store so they could get:
* Two bottles of Jack Daniels
* Two bottles of Jim Bean
* A twelve-pack of Corona
* Orange Juice
* Six packs of smokes
We had to make two trips around the house they were going to because they said, "(Crap), dad's home..." almost resembling two teenagers afraid of getting found out.
These men were in their 40s at least... and the one had just gotten out of the hospital that morning after having stitches removed following a surgery two days ago. I wonder what it was for... a liver transplant?
At the end of my shift, I passed a sign pole that had an advert: "Drinking problem? Call this number now!" I almost felt like tearing that sign off the post and dumping it on their front lawn.
This isn't to say I won't take home the intoxicated. But this was a case where it was out of control given the circumstances... and if someone doesn't get a number like that to them, and soon... it may be a lot more than the hospital for them.
I wonder what went wrong in their lives that would cause them to be like this. I've never totally understood the depths of desperation, but I'm glad I've not experienced it in that level.
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* That one driver and I are on good terms again; he blamed himself for the problems of last week, saying he got up "on the wrong side of the bed." For three days and 36 hours straight? Interesting...
* Now they have me taking the cab home a couple times per week. For limited household runs, they say it would be okay to use. I'm not too comfortable with the arrangement because it's something completely new. Additional responsibility for another car, for sure. Thank goodness this neighborhood is relatively safe & quiet.
