Having a limo as your "second car" is really quite nice,most of the time. I am not rich, but I had that experience for about three years,while someone very close to me was driving limo. What made it so nice, was, once they were hired on as a driver,and had proven themselves to be responsible, dependable and capable of handling any situation, as well as knowing how to dress the part, the company scrutinized the whole family,and if you were"their kind of people" they adopted you too. Of course, there were demands put on you as well. For example, if the boss, or even the boss's wife, called,and said meet us at "the place" in twenty minutes...both of you. That meant that even in the dead of night, you got up, got dressed,and tore like all the devils in hell were after you to get to the designated area inside that twenty minutes,or you might as well forget ever showing up at work again. The place, in this case was usually Ross's restaurant, a high grade 24 hour eatery that served excellent food and bottomless cups of strong coffee,and catered to truckers, cab drivers, cops, and groups like us. The minute they saw us come in they would be clearing out lingerers in a large corner booth,and setting us up with hot coffee before we even sat down. It was always the same.The man in charge had a new idea, or a new fabulous contract pending that would take a team effort,and he was going to fill us in on what it was, to make sure everybody was on board with it. While he talked, we would give our orders to the waitress,and we knew the sky was the limit, unless we had to jump and run immediately. In that case, he told us, at the onset that was the case,and then we would just have coffee and a roll or something quick.Otherwise we could have steak and eggs, or mile high pancakes, a cheese omelet,a burger and fries, or a full dinner,and the boss would pick up the tab. But, if you left the confab hungry, or broke, it was your own fault.He was always good for a touch,if you put it on him the right way, and at the right time. He was always a little sweet on me, and I could get a loan even when he was a little slow to reach into his pocket for someone else. He called me "Mom",and treated me special. I already had to walk with a cane,and he knew the score, health wise. So, even when all the cars were running fairly steady, and I called the dispatcher for someone to "do me a favor" and collect me,I'd get an, " I'll call you back..." and sometimes I would get a call-back saying, there will be someone there in an hour or two, but more often than not, there would be no call, but a big shiny limo would slide up in front of the house, a big white formal, or a teal stretch, or "Big Red"stretch,and a handsome chauffeur in a formal tux or a nice suit with shiny boots would come to the door and offer his arm to walk me out to the car. Oh, yeah, I always got the full treatment, even if the one driving wasn't "My" driver.I was seated just so in the back,and once the driver was in his seat, it was always the same. Where would you like to go? While curious neighbors looked on, I snuggled down in the plush seat, leaned back and opened the moon roof, and directed him, first, let's go to the gas station, and get a Coke or a Snapple, and I turned on the music, or the television,and cranked it up, loud.More often than not, if I turned on the t.v., I had also brought with me a video tape, with beautiful music on it that I loved, and popped in the VCR as soon as I got settled.Or, I would forgo the trip to the station,and have a drink from the full bar...and go straight to the supermarket. Where ever I went, there was sure to be onlookers who would look to see who it was that was arriving in such a fabulous car, and they stared at me wondering how I could afford to ride to the grocery store,or the gas station, or the pet store,the pharmacy,or wherever that way. But the most fun, was as I left the store. There would be the Limo, standing outside the store, at the pick-up lane, engine running, lights on,running lights on,and inside the store, a crowd would have gathered, looking out the windows, wondering who it was in the store who had come in such a car, and many of them would be talking amongst themselves, glancing around to see if they could spot some rich person, or a celebrity,possibly traveling incognito, who had graced them with their presence. I would walk slowly through the crowd pushing my cart of purchases,trying to keep a straight face when people asked me if I knew whose car it was,but before I got through the double doors, my driver would spot me, and leap from the car, and come to assist me, taking the cart from me, helping me into the car, holding the door,and popping the trunk open for my stuff. The reaction was delightful. Several people would follow me out, going OMG! and WOW! and my favorite, I should have known!Often times, in nice weather, on the drive home, I would stand up, and peer out the moon roof,and enjoy the wind in my face. I was riding in "Big Red" when I did that one night, and lost my favorite comb, with a big red bow on it out of my hair. It just sailed away in the breeze.Too bad, too, I've never been able to replace it. But I really didn't care. That was a delicious ride,and a wonderful night. One of many. I don't really even know how many. I would have to say, it was a weekly occurrence for about three years, before it came to an end, as all things must. And, as spectacular a time as it was, the end was spectacular too. All the drivers came to our house, and crammed all our chairs around the kitchen table,and drank pots of coffee,and tried to figure out, where the boss had gone. POOF! Gone, just like that.The dispatch office was locked up, and the garage was locked up, with most of the cars in it.Several of the cars were outside in the parking lot,and for weeks and weeks they just sat there. The drivers all had idea's and plans, and a couple of the married drivers got divorced. Some hung on, and tried to find the boss so they could offer to buy their favorite cars, but in the end, they gave up and went to other limo companies, and moved away, because at that time, ours was the only game in town.The rest went to driving trucks, and they too went over the road and finally left the area, but we still hear from some of them, and they are fast friends. One in particular still calls me,and we have a mutual affection for each other. But as a group, several went to driving cab,and they are still there today. And most of them still call me "Mom".
But as for me, I have relegated that time, and those memories to my" Garden of Delights",because my garden is more than just what grows in my yard, but all those things that make me happy. The beauty in my house, be it plants, flowers,pets, people, or gifts from around the world,and of course, last but certainly not least, My Lord.He taught me something very special during that time. Unlike most, I shall never be impressed by Limousines, diamonds, or any other trappings of wealth. Status symbols are just things,nothing more. And life consisteth not in the abundance of THINGS...
OUI?
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