Muslim cab driver in NYC a few years back.

I don't remember the details of where we were going but I certainly remembered the ride. It was about an hour and a half if pretty much silence. Wait a minute...the ride was from Brooklyn to Bridgeport, CT.

I've always been cheerful and generous to cabbies over the years. I've bought numerous snacks and meals for them over the years and I tip generously. 

The cab arrived and the driver looked at me with a bored sullen look. I got in the back seat and we started off. I tried to be polite and make conversation but he had an attitude so I just rode along in silence.

We were about halfway there when I felt hungry and offered to buy him lunch. He snapped angrily back at me that it was Ramadan and he was fasting. So much for that. I really didn't want to start an argument with the guy so we rode along in silence. 

I texted the person I was relieving and found out he didn't plan on returning to Brooklyn. His car was in Philly and he'd catch the train and ride in style. He said he'd catch a local cab to the airport.

I texted back have a lunch containing pork ready for me. He texted back LOL.

We arrived at the terminal and the driver didn't have a TWIC card so he couldn't enter the terminal. No problem. Security would show up in a few minutes and give me a ride to the boat.

Needless to say, he tried fishing for a tip.

"I'll give you a tip, alright. Assimilate or go back to where you came from. You could have been halfway decent and taken the high road when I offered to feed you. when I got into this damned cab I saw a simple human being and out of kindness and compassion offered to break bread with you. I had no idea you're a Muslim and if you had politely refused my offer with a civil explanation I certainly understood."

I continued. "Last Christmas I wished another person a Merry Christmas. He said Merry Christmas back and told me that although he's a Hindu he loves it when Christians offer to share their holiday. Now assimilate or go back to where you came from. By the way I have a ham sandwich waiting for me when I board the boat."

To find out why the blog is pink just cut and paste this: http://piccoloshash.blogspot.com/2009/12/my-feminine-side-blog-stays-pink.html NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THE WRITING OF TODAY'S ESSAY