DON'T DOUBT ME, BUDDY!

This just happened. Jan. 11,2009. I took a fare from the airport(AUSTIN) to a downtown hotel. Dropped off and got paid the standard fare. Drove from the hotel thinking about....where could I get a fare?. It was 5:25pm RUSHHOUR! Went to Congress. Saw a van cab loading in front of 600 Congress.(Cab Stand there) I parked behind him. A couple of minutes pass. See a guy running to the Van cab. Tried to talk to the driver. Little did the guy know, the van cab was already LOADED. He came back to my cab. He told me he needed a cab to the Airport. (BINGO). Cool....let's go! he said we have to go back to 811 Congress and pick up his friend, dog and three bags. Drove up and around the corner to get to the location. He said he was on a Jet Blue flight 6:55pm. It was 5:55pm! I had to cut off a bus and stop in traffic.(it was three lanes wide) We loaded the cab and headed to the Airport. I said that I could get there pretty quick. ....1ST street....to riverside...to 71 etc.... The guy said why not 7TH street. It's faster. Told the guy during rush hour traffic that it wasn't. 7TH street, 1ST street and Airport Blvd all merge at the bridge.....NO WAY!!!! Said to the guy....in my ten years of driving.....Riverside is the better street to take during rush hour. He says ' I fly all the time' I wasn't going to argue, just kept driving my way. We encountered heavy traffic at the first light at Riverside. They started to act like I was going the wrong way. I told them I'll be there before 6:20pm. They said....yeah right...whatever. The vibe I got.....these guys were lovers. Jet Blue now flys to San Francisco. Poor doggie in the mans lap. We made it down Riverside at got to the Airport at 6:18pm....told the guys....less than 20 minutes here...in traffic....They didn't know what to say. It goes to show......NOT ALL CABBIES ARE SCUM. We can do the right thing....even if your the butt-head. We unloaded at the gate......Not even a thanks.........just a 10 dollar TIP. Good enough for me!