Before you go any further, read this...

Dictionary.com defines a redneck as:

1. an uneducated white farm laborer, esp. from the South.

2. a bigot or reactionary, esp. from the rural working class.

It goes on to say that redneck is A slang term, usually for a rural white southerner who is politically conservative, racist, and a religious fundamentalist. This term is generally considered offensive. It originated in reference to agricultural workers, alluding to how the back of a person's neck will be burned by the sun if he works long hours in the fields.

While I can't say all that fits me to a tee, a lot of it is pretty damn close.

You see, I lost both my parents before I turned 12 years old. I bounced around in a couple of foster homes before moving in with my uncle when I tuned 15. By age 17, I was on my own. I dropped out of school half way through 11th grade so I could go to work full time. Three months after my 18th birthday, I got behind the wheel of a cab for the first time.

I've learned more about life in 28 years in a hack than any philosopher ever could know. I've had multi-million dollar businessmen, celebrities and pro athletes as well as crack whores, drug dealers and murderers in my cab. I refuse to be an airport jockey or one of those guys that only stages at the hotels, so unfortunately, I have to deal with more of the bottom feeders of life than I do the upper crust.

It is the dealings that I've had the bad apples that has made me what I am today...

The Redneck Cabbie.

You see, to escape the madness of the city streets, my mind drifts off (not while I'm driving) to a quiet country town. A place where everyone knows everyone, and a man's handshake is as binding a contract as a person needs. A place where friends gather to down a couple of cold ones and listen to music that you can actually understand the words.

A place where young men don't walk around with their pants falling down over their ass, and young ladies don't have to dress like sluts to draw a man's attention.

I think you get the picture. I know, boring as whale shit to most city folks. I'd be living in a town just like that if it weren't for the fact that there's just not much demand for my line of work in most small towns.

This blog will reflect these feelings. If I seem a little bitter now and then, its just because that wonderful little town is nowhere in my near future, and because the life expectancy of someone in my line of work doesn't extend much past retirement age, all I can do is dream about it.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Am I just mellowing in my old age?

Just really don't seem like I have much to write about.

I've been posting allot on Cabbie Shack, but most of that is simple copy paste stuff.

I did see a story from Cincinnati about cab drivers that work the airport there having to shell out 60% of their fares to their company, plus pay a lease of a hundred bucks and all of their gas used. I sure hope there's something I'm missing in that story, or those guys are just plain hosed.

Otherwise, I really am having a case of writer's block. I'm sure there's still stuff happening that's pissing me off somehow, but by the time I get to the computer, I've forgotten about it.

I've stopped listening to talk radio for the most part. It's become the same old crap day in and day out. While I only get to hear the conservative crap here in Corpus, I'm sure the liberal crap is just as boorish.

I'm to the point where I just want to relax. I fought the good fight while driving in Vegas. Those guys have shown the ability to stick it to the establishment pretty well. I applaud their efforts.

Yes... I'm still here, and trust me, there will be some topic that lights my fire once again.

Someday...

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