A waiting my taxi on the sidewalk outside the airport terminal stood a tall girl with stylish, bright-white sneakers, her feet turned out like a classically trained dancer's. As I pulled to the curb, she walked over to my lowered window, bent down and gently pushed aside her fluffy brunette bangs, which fell nearly over her dark eyes.

"You're here to take me to the bus terminal?" she asked.

"I'm your guy," I responded and got out to help load her bag into the trunk.... Read more

They told me my wife's looking better today," said the aged man sitting next to me. His deep voice carried just the barest glint of hope. "Yesterday she slept through my whole visit."

"That's good news," I replied. "Maybe today you can show her those pictures of your newest great-grandchild."... Read more

"I really can't see why you're so nervous." The woman spoke from the back to the stocky man sitting beside me in the front. "You're gonna be an awesome dad."

"You think so, huh?" the big guy responded. He had deep-set black eyes and smooth bronze skin. "And what's your evidence for that?"

"Blind faith in my sister, that's all. That girl is no fool, and she never would have married one. Myself - in case you're interested - I think you're a big buffoon and will probably wreck the kid for life before he's 3." She then paused for the perfect five seconds before adding, "Seriously."... Read more

I was taking the corner at St. Paul and Main when I saw a couple, perhaps in their late twenties, standing on the sidewalk in front of the Vermont House. I slowed down and pointed through my window at them. The man made eye contact and gestured to himself, raising his eyebrows. I nodded my head "yes," with a slightly more emphatic point of my finger.... Read more

Having trouble watching this video? Watch it here on YouTube.

"Mister, you got to help me." It sounded like a teen-age boy on the other end of the line. He had a slight accent Spanish, I guessed. "I'm stuck at my girlfriend's house here in Hinesburg, and I got to get home."

"Where in Hinesburg are you?" I asked.

"Okay, you know where CVU is, right? You go past the school, and take a right at the top of the hill. Her place is up Buck Hill Road. I'll meetcha at the bottom of the hill. Her road is kinda funky."... Read more

March is all slush and potholes. This one came in like a lion, hung around like a lion, and went out like a lion. The one saving grace is spring's inevitability. Hang in there, I exhort myself, as I idle at a downtown taxi stand. Winter will die. This tag-on season of frost heaves is just the death throes.

"Hi there, buddy. Gosh darn -- here I am again. I always get your cab, every Friday night."... Read more

"Are you the taxi company?" a gruff voice inquired. "Okay, hang on a minute. There's a lady here who needs a ride."

I sat in late afternoon traffic, the cellular phone pressed to my ear. I figured it was a bartender calling for one of my customers who got a little too happy at happy hour. I could hear the murmur of conversation as the phone was being passed.... Read more

The two big guys stepped from the door of What Ales You and slumped into the rear of my taxi. With the demise of the Blarney Stone and the legendary Chicken Bone — along with The Last Chance, due to the Flynn Theatre expansion — What Ales You has emerged as the bar of choice for the St. Michael's cognoscenti. It was still early in the evening, but these guys had clearly had their fill, and then some.... Read more

“The Sheraton, cabbie. And if it’s all right, I’d like to stop for cigarettes.” Sitting in the rear, my fare is a lanky man with dark, oily hair and a two-day stubble. His jacket looks new, but insufficient for the cold Vermont night.

“Sure,” I reply. “There’s a Mobil right across the street from the hotel. We can stop there for smokes.”... Read more