St. Francis de Sales Parish

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After the fifth or sixth prying question, something happens. They start to win. They ask about NY and how you’re enjoying your trip and what you have planned for the day, for the week, for your life. Many times, they have a few unsolicited recommendations for you. You’ve told them this isn’t your first time around here, but they don’t care. “Check out this festival” and “be sure to stop at X restaurant while you’re here.” And you know what? A lot of the time it is a great recommendation. You start to give in and something remarkable occurs... You ask them questions back, “You always live around here?” (Who am I?! What’s happening to me?!) And that is all they need. They have sensed the crack in your defenses and do not hesitate to strike.

By the end of the ride, you are waving the white flag of defeat. Robert with 4.99 stars is your best friend. You want to invite them in to share a drink. You tell them to say hi to their wife and kids for you and hopefully you’ll see them around town. You are a different person than when you entered that cab. You fly home to New York, and you get into your Uber outside JFK. After 20 seconds, all of that goodness is washed away. You are back to your normal self. A yellow cab cuts your Uber driver off and you both flip them the bird in unison. Not a word is spoken, but it is a beautiful moment.