Watch out!

We are driving North on the Old Seward Highway {OSH} (misnamed, as it is the old road to Seward, but no longer a highway, just a typical two lane in each direction street). The intersection at Airport Road is wide, with open great visibility in each direction.

Watch out!
An old Cadillac nearly runs me and my fare off of the street as we are headed north.

I see a police car about a quarter-block away headed toward me at this intersection.

I have a red light. I run the red light. I am immediately stopped and the cop says you will seriously pay for this…. I explain that I ran the red light to get his attention to the fact that there is a drunk driver that nearly ran me off of the street up ahead on OSH. I explained that I will drop my fare and meet him where ever he wants as soon as I do if he still needs to give me a ticket for the red light violation if he will just go check out the other car. He races off, red light and siren.

I go on to where the fare was to be dropped.

As we discussed the incident the fare said, I think what you did was over the requirements, and I want to go with you when the cop calls. He/she gave me the information on how to reach them for the next couple of hours, and went on about their day.

I seem to remember that they went to the IRS bldg, but that is irrelevant.

I never received a call form the cop, however I did receive a call from the fare when the day was over, asking about the conclusion of the incident.

Moral of the story: Intent is measured by the results.
I intended to protect others, and I simply protected myself and my fare.

So, what is the intent of the US in the world?

Multiple choice test:
1. Change everyone to Christianity.
2. Have an end to terrorism no matter the costs.
3. Secure the Iraqi oil.
4. Win more Gold Medals.
5. Win – win.

I hope you have read this far. If you did, the fare is paid.

Oh yeah, the correct answer to the test is:
It depends on YOUR intent.
CABBY

China’s Olympics Opening!

Whew! Were you blown away?

I could hardly contain my amazement.

As the maze of my foggy thinking was reeling with this spectacular show, I was thinking that there is no way, that is NO WAY that the technology experts, architects or ‘entertainment in America’ experts could have TODAY presented such an advanced and full out WOW! show.

Thank you China for a wonderful in home entertainment evening.

This may not be a cab ride, but the show last night for sure was a trip.
No fare for this.
CABBY

This fare I picked up at the center of the block on a short street just above the zoo mid summer.

A family of four had folding chairs, blankets, a hamper, ice chest and ‘stuff’ that nearly filled the trunk of the cab.

There were three other cabs at the same time picking up three other groups that were to meet at the Zoo.

A picnic

In the band shell, not greatly known musicians are creating sounds of harmony, a lyric and a beat that, even if it is familiar is pretty much hard to follow hear and understand - a result of the over riding sounds of people enjoying people.

The children dance free and innocent during the music - and after.

Very small boys are in collared casual shirts, wearing leather looking vinyl sandals, bulky long shorts that are built as though for diapers, but poorly matched to the anatomy they are paired with. They look like the dressed the same dads. Only grandpa is differently clad - he has on black socks and white Velcro shoes.

Little girls are in ‘pretty’ hand-me-down or second hand store long princess dresses. Their jellies, or similar, are from the same sources or from an older sister. The ‘real pearl’ necklace on her neck is continually pulled at by the wearer - the elastic stretches freely with each jerk. The older sister is ‘bored’ and is sure everyone is staring at every move she makes, yet she is the least interesting of the gathering to observe. It is painful to watch her level of awkward self consciousness. Is puberty fun? For whom?

Both the little boys and the little girls enjoy tossing the drying fallen leaves skyward and celebrate with laughs and shrieks, joining them in falling, twirling to earth again and again. Those same leaves become worse-for-wear caused by the clutching grasps and swift brushing against the ill fitting picnic costumes.

The young moms wear chic colored short summer sleeved tops with stylish cropped pants. Middle aged (45+) women are wearing dark striped, dingy colored hemp skirts under worn appearing limp plaid print shirts that are cinched with faux Conchos threaded on a wide dark brown drapery cord looking belt. They hold hands with their similarly dressed partner. Is that a ribbon in her fraying graying braid? Grandma wears slacks, a sensible long sleeved (cuffs rolled back) pressed cotton top and has a sweater on the back of her chair. She has on her sparkling white training shoes, new stylish heavy framed glasses, and her make up is perfect.

All the adults that gather for the sheer pleasure of sharing each other in a wide open gathering have lost that palpable innocence they observe in the little ones. While here each can richly sense and vividly remember what they have lost. And wonder -where? When? Why? How? – That it got lost. They each can, however, remember when they thought they could fly by flapping their arms.

But, adults are polite and behave as expected. There are no physical boundaries, no territory or State or National border lines here. Folding outdoor chairs and blankets are spread on itchy grass, a sort of turf possession. Unknown other people (strangers) are close about but ignored as though they are not also singing maybe out of tune out loud and for sure quietly to themselves. Adults could sing aloud as if they were still children - if they just would! Aren’t manners just plain in the way some of the time? I love it when the musicians ask every one to join in: “Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea….” “This land is your land; this land is my land….” (You should here, provide your own tune and lyric.)

Each family brings enough food it seems for at least six thousand even though there will be at maximum a total of 7 adults with 9 kids. Potato salad and sandwiches of ham, turkey, cheese, tomato, lettuce on a croissant roll are the main course with three types of grapes and two types of chips. Four kinds of cookies are to follow and accompany seconds around. There are flower decorated paper plates, sturdy plastic forks and large paper napkins. Also they have iced flavored drinks and water. This is a feast by any description.

A near by FOP couple eat their Caesar salad, Frito pie and a bottle of wine for two served in glass wine glasses that match the plates and utensils with subdued colored cloth napkins. With chocolate brownies (adult brownies?) to finish, they sit in ample, sturdy Costco Big Butt chairs. There is a large soft sided cooler collapsing at their feet. Half way through the concert, they stroll off and later return sharing a bag of pop corn and ‘dippin dots’ each with a glowing wrist band. Ex-hippies with the ’Munchies’?

The zoos ancient cottonwood trees are trimmed up so high that they resemble a failing thin jungle canopy. These cottonwoods if not trimmed would be the ordinary tall, full, all limbs to the top, trees. Wonder why they are trimmed up that high? Oh well, the stars show through and the distant dark clouds are more visible this way. There are new 20’ trees planted this season around the grassy knoll and shallow hollows surrounding the face of the band shell. Will these newest trees cause some future generation similar curiosity? (Maybe the trees are trimmed like that so they won’t spook the horses with cracking falling limbs. Another story.)

A breeze rises as the sun settles beyond a perfect perch for sunrise watching (also another story,) - the ancient volcanoes - which overlook the city. There have been sweltering nights and muggy days for weeks now, so the cool flit of air across the arms is a real treat. The cottonwood leaves are sighing and rattling in the breeze way up there. With no lightning to be seen and only far off thunder faintly heard, it is a promise of a great evening.

This is the last zoo concert of the season.

Why do we wait for a concert in the park to have a picnic?

I really like to hear the harsh throaty hungry lions roar at sunset. I do like that sound, but that isn’t the reason.

Why don’t we invite others and just go to a park and laugh and enjoy each other?

Lets!

Life ambles past at a picnic. The sound that it makes seems more acceptable, and not near as loud as at other places of our day. Have you ever heard the sound a deadline makes as it rushes past?

If you read this far, the fare is paid. Yes, the meter runs when the cab is hired and stopped for a picnic. (Seems wrong).

CABBY