New York city and taxi cabs go together like peanut butter and jelly. Likewise, taxi cabs and terror are on equal terms in my book, based on my recent experience! Before we went to NYC a friend told us, “get in the taxi, close your eyes and hold on for dear life!” If a taxi wants to move over in front of a tour bus they simply blow their horn and move over! A car’s turning and is slowing the taxi down? No problem, he just squeezes himself between the cars and goes around! I’m not sure I understand what their hurry is…don’t they get paid more each minute you’re in their car? Perhaps it’s just the whole reputation they feel they need to keep up with.
On our last taxi ride we were on our way to the airport. The doorman hailed the cab driver, loaded our bags in the back of the taxi van and wished us a good trip. When we climbed in the back seat, we saw that an oriental man was driving our car. Most everyone in the city is from another country; no problem, however this man spoke very little English! We couldn’t understand him and he couldn’t understand us! Now that’s not a big problem if you’re saying hello on the street, but if this is the person that’s going to take you to the airport that has five different terminals, THAT’S A PROBLEM! We told him we needed to go to Laguardia Airport to the Delta terminal. “WHERE YOU GO? THERE FIVE TERMINALS! WHERE YOU GO? I NOT WANT TO GO AROUND COUNTRY” (or something like that)!
My sisters and I did what any married woman would do: we got on our cell phones and called our husbands! My “know-how-to-get-anywhere husband got on map quest and found the airport and described the airport and where each terminal was located. I leaned forward and spoke loudly to the driver (the language barrier somehow makes us think people are also hard of hearing!). “We need to go to terminal “D” for Delta. The poor man sighed heavily and leaned over the steering wheel. He’s probably home blogging about me right now!
My sweet husband told me to just stay on the phone with him and tell him where we were at each intersection to be sure the driver understood us. My hubby would say, “What’s the next street?” I’d tell him and he’d say, “You’re going the right way. You’re almost there.” He was such a comfort as we sped our way to the airport. What a wonderful sight it was when we saw the airport in front of us! We got off at Delta to boot! Another blessing we did not take for granted!
After the escapade was over we were able to chuckle about it and also reflect. I thought about the many times the Lord has let my life be taken to a place where I felt uncertain and afraid. Things were moving along too quickly by my estimation; I felt out of control. But all along the way He had it all mapped out and was watching over me and loving me even more than a husband who was worried about his wife. I cannot get lost or lose my way while guided by His hand, and I will never be alone. What a comfort to my frantic-filled heart!
One good thing about this taxi cab driving is that I think I’ll feel much safer riding with my 17 year-old now! God is good!
RefreshHer 