From the strange but true side of blogging

So here is a real life story to show you what blogging has done to me.  I leave the NAC Forum today at the St Regis Hotel in NYC around 5pm.  The hotel is on 55th and 5th Ave.  I was taking a taxi up to my friend Tyler's place at 69th and 3rd.  After waiting a while in front of the hotel, the concierge suggested I go up to 5th Ave to catch a cab, as it might be easier.  So I walk up to 5th and am trying to flag a cab (for those who don't know, you look for one with the light on top with their cab number lit up).  Along comes this skinny kid peddling a bike taxi similar to the ones in the picture to the right.  The kid asks where I am going and I tell him.  He tells me that for 20 dollars, he will take me there.  I tell him thank you, but take a good look at me.  He looks like a nice kid and how could I in good conscience allow him to peddle a bike 20 blocks schlepping me around. He has a full life ahead of him after all, why risk it.  The kid tells me he could take 3 like me and offers to do it for 15 dollars.  I tell him thanks again, but I should be peddling him and besides a cab would only be 8 bucks or so.  The kid says he will do it for 10 and I am getting tired of waiting for a cab, so I say OK lets give it a shot.

I jump in the back and again ask the kid if he is sure he is up to this and no big deal if he does not want to do it.  He proceeds to start peddling and off we go down 5th, making a left turn on 54th.  The kid is building up a good head of steam and I am impressed that he can lug me around, but still embarrassed. However, I take out my phone and start catching up on calls.  We approach 54th and Park Ave and the light is turning red.  The kid begins to slow down, but with my weight in the back it takes more than a skinny kid to stop this inertia.  He hits the brakes hard and we stop right before the crosswalk at the corner. 

People start crossing the street and I am watching them as I talk on the phone.  Still feeling embarrassed at making this poor kid tow me around on his bike taxi.  One guy crossing the street is staring at me.  I think to myself, I know what this guy is saying to himself.  Look at this fat ba#%&% sitting here making this poor kid peddle him around.  I am feeling really guilty now and am ready to jump out the back.  The guy starts walking at me at this point.  I think to myself, oh no this guy is going to come here and tell me exactly what I am thinking and I agree with him.  What to do?  Should I slug the guy?  Should I laugh with him at me?  Should I just ignore him, flip him the bird or what?  The guy is now just about in front of me and he reaches into his jacket pocket.  Is he going to shoot me?  Does he want to take a picture of this to show his friends?  Should I fade to black and roll the credits ala the Sopranos? No, he pulls out a card and says, your Alan Shimel, I recognize you and love your blog.  I kid you not, this is the god honest truth.

The guys name is Peter Stern and he is a director of professional service sales at ISS/IBM based in Penn Plaza.  If you don't believe me, seek out Peter and I am sure he will confirm the story.  Just goes to show you, you never know who you are going to meet and when you will meet them from blogging.

By the way, the kid peddled uphill on 3rd Ave from 54th to 69th and though a few times I wanted to get out and push, we made it. I gave him 15 bucks because I felt so darn guilty.  Anyway, Farnum can put this one with my other taxi stories. You just never know when you are Alan Shimel.