Bogna seems like nice enough of lady, although some of the more seasoned drivers have opinions of their own. I’ve spoken with Bogna several times over the last several months and always have had nice conversations. She immigrated from Poland a few years ago and has been driving a taxi since. One of our Polish drivers, who suffice it to say is not particularly fond of her, calls her “Big Mama.”
Word on the street is that Big Mama gets the better rides fed to her over her cell phone by the office. Usually the best rides are long ones, and Big Mama gets more than her fair share it seems. Today I got a ride at the shores that was a “personal” for Big Mama. She was not able to take it because she was coming back from a fare to the airport and the man wanted to leave right away. A “personal” is when a customer either calls you directly or calls the office and asks for you.
Well I got Big Mama’s personal today, and it was a good one. He went all the way from The Palms condominium complex in Cortez to Solana Beach, an $88 dollar ride. Funny thing was that he didn’t even know Big Mama. Seems strange to me that he would request a person who he had never met. I was actually the only contact the man had with the taxi company. Earlier in the day I picked him up from the ferry landing where the ferry coming from San Diego drops you off and brought him to The Palms.
A few days ago I got a similar story from a driver named Rejinaldo. A few months back Rejinaldo got what you might call a miracle cab fare to Los Angeles. This is like a $400 ride. I’ve never driven anyone to Los Angeles, actually very few drivers have. There are drivers who have been here for 10 years and haven’t driven anyone to Los Angeles. Point is it’s rare.
So Rejinaldo is coming back and spots Big Mama in her taxi in Pasadena of all places with passengers! Not one word about it was ever mentioned on the radio. What are the chances of that? How often does this happen that the office feeds her a great ride that no one ever hears about? Sometimes she just disappears for hours on end. It’s not right, I know that much.
The drivers say that Big Mama knows the key to the dispatches hearts. PASTRIES! It seems like every few days she stops in and drops off some goodies for the office workers. They are said to be particularly fond of her dumplings as well as a wide variety of confectionaries. My guess it the office workers are fond of pretty much anything, as long as it’s not green, leafy, or grow in the ground. They don’t seem to be too fond of exercise either.
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