October starts with a bang. It’s a busy morning, and I think I might just make gate. It must be pay day, as my fares are tipping more generously than usual.

I drive a man to an airport bus terminal. I’m about to leave when I see the bus pull in, and it occurs to me that there might be someone on board who needs a ride into town. Sure enough, somebody climbs into the back of the cab and gives me an address. He’s just returned from Texas, where he’d been contracted to “make metal buildings”. The thought of being in any way associated with a metal building in Texas’ summer heat is just too much; fried eggs anyone? He’s got two weeks off, then it’s Arizona for more metal buildings. I never knew the metal building market was so active. I wonder if the customer gets to choose the metal used; I’d ask for gold with titanium highlights.

Driving between points A and B I see a group of people taking pictures of something with their cell phones. I slow down as I’m passing, hoping to glimpse whatever might be of such interest. I see a street sign transplanted to a high flower bed, its message whited out. Instead of the usual parking or traffic flow restrictions, this sign only reads “No Gravity”. There’s a picture of a tree, floating upside down, its roots reaching for the sun, painted on an off white background. Ain’t art a hoot?

The day continues to be busy, with several back to back fares and a couple of personals. It seems like an endless sea of flags, but when I get back to the shop I find that, after gate and gas, I’ve actually only netted eight dollars. That’s a bit of a disappointment.

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