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Blogs by Ronald Dondiego
The Moonlight Taxi Dialogues 3/10/2006 8:01:56 AM
He looked just like he was sleeping ... It was a typical friday night ... Drunks, party goers, young people going from club to club in an endeavor to find the hip place to be, where the beautiful people gather to show off their cell phones and credit cards and flashy clothes. But I wasn't buying into it. I was basically disgusted with the human condition, with the vanity and the striving after wind and the New York who's who scene. I mean at my age if you haven't made it then why bother? I am what I am at this point, a writer who's been passed over many times for younger, more traditional fare. No, I'm a cabby - the shoe now fits and my illusions have all been dispelled. But don't feel sorry for me, because when you shoot for the moon and miss what you have left is a journey to the stars and beyond.
So Ron do you have a story to tell? Of course, I do.
Like I said ... It was a typical friday night in many ways except for the fact that on the corner of 28th street and 9th avenue I was heading west and noticed that there was a cab parked off the corner. The driver, who looked to be a middle aged man, was slumped over the steering wheel. I couldn't believe that someone could fall asleep on the most busy night of the week, but some of these guy put in very long hours and it's better to take a nap than to have an accident.
So the light turned green and I drove away ... Wishing I too could take a nap, but knowing full well that the rent was due and I needed to make at least fifty more bucks.
I finished the shift and went home, forgetting about having seen this guy who was asleep at the wheel and feeling no pain. Later the next week I found out that he had died and that peaceful expression on his face was his death mask. Peace at last my friend, rest because all of your shifts are over forever.
I would have dialed 911 had I known ... But he looked just like he was sleeping.
