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Caught at Van Buren and Wabash. I looked at the posted license in the back window, so I know his name…it starts with an “A.” But I’ve decided not to use names in these encounters unless the drivers and I exchange them…usually with a handshake. Its sort of a rule.  Just like how I don’t voluntarily start these conversations….I see if the drivers do.

“How do you get there?”

“90/94 going north.”

“Its raining really bad out there, yes?”

” I know…I was really happy to see you come along.”

“You were waiting long?”

“About 5 minutes…but it seemed like a long time because of the weather. Are you busy tonight?” [Read more…] about taxi cab #6

Caught at Jackson and Wabash. Jabril is his name.

“Where are you coming from? Job?

“yes, I work during the day and teach at Columbia at night.”

“Oh, so you are an artist??

“I guess you could say that. But I still have a day job. I think everyone has to do something creative. What’s your creative thing?”

“I have a Masters in Linguistics from Morocco. I came here for 9 years and started substitute teaching. I teach French so I didn’t get called that often. They only pay like uh 50 to 100 dollars a week.”

[Read more…] about taxi cab #5

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yomVZif2w5M]

This is from the show last weekend. Thinking about more transportation narratives. walking to interact, sitting and moving to tell stories…..or something like that.

This semester I teach Monday and Tuesday nights on top of working a full day job. I’m always committed to public transit, but couldn’t take getting home at midnight 2 nights in a row with getting up for work. So the past few weeks I’ve been splurging on the $9-10 taxicab home.

Sometimes the drivers are talking on their cellphones so I just stare out the window. But on the weeknight cab rides…and the occasional weekend one, we chat. [Read more…] about 3 taxicab stories…#1, #2, and #4, will be telling more…

https://maryrachelfanning.com/74/