The long way home

One of the reasons I always like to leave Las Vegas somewhat early on Sundays is to avoid the crowds at the airport. However, that plan didn't seem to work out this time -- the place was a zoo!!!

After waiting 20 minutes to check in, I endured another 40 minutes of punishment getting through security. It's a good thing I wasn't any more hungover or dehydrated than I was. I had all I could do to keep my involuntary muscle twitches under control.

Once the plane was boarded, we pushed out to the tarmac, but again it was hurry up and wait. Our plane finally got out about 45 minutes late.

When I landed in San Francisco I started thinking about my plan to get home. I didn't want to catch a cab directly out of SFO because they always try to charge me fare + 1/2 when they get 15 miles out of San Francisco Country where I now live. I decided to catch BART to Millbrae, and check out my Caltrain options heading south from there.

When I got to Millbrae, the schedule said I had a 45 minute wait until the next train, so I scanned the parking lot for taxis. Sure enough, there was one waiting. But by the time I could approach it, I could see another man talking to the driver. I waited for a bit, then came closer.

"Are you going to hire this cab?" I asked the man.

"Not sure yet, maybe not," he replied.

"Where are you going?" the taxi driver asked me.

"Mountain View," I said.

"Oh, I'll take you to Mountain View," said the driver. Looking at the other customer, the driver said, "I'll call you another cab."

The other customer looked puzzled. The driver was shunning him for the higher fare.

"I'm sure you will," said the customer. "But I was here first. How about you take us both and you drop me off in San Mateo on the way?"

This was okay with me, so the cab driver obliged.

When I got in the cab, the other customer introduced himself as Glen. Then he asked where I was coming from.

"Las Vegas," I said.

"I just moved out here from Las Vegas," said Glen. "I got in trouble with some FBI guy, so I moved. It's a long story."

"I need some money for a deposit on my apartment," said Glen, "so I'm going to work right now."

"A day laborer?," I thought to myself. Hmmm, that doesn't seem right.

"I'm a masseuse," said Glen. "I perform erotic massage. I'm going to make $1000."

I had no reply to that.

"Hey, $1000 is $1000," said Glen. "For only one hour of work. I don't know if you are gay or straight, but..."

"I'm straight," I said before he could finish his sentence.

At this point, the cab driver was nearing San Mateo, and told Glen he'd drop him off near the freeway exit as not to increase my fare. Glen then gave me $5 toward my fare and left the taxi.

I wondered where that $5 bill had been. Then I decided I didn't want to know.