Terkel: "Working" The Demon Lover

The life of a cabdriver...what is it like?  Booker Page was the first example I read, and honestly, I was a bit disappointed.  The information he gave was credible yes: I can see that sitting for hours does cause a lot of physical pain especially at his older age, as he mentions, "Oh, every muscle aches in my body" (Terkel, 197).  He talked more about the sea than anything else.  When describing his one year endeavor as a cabdriver, he kept on referring to being in a ship and traveling.  Being a cabdriver is only to save money so he can buy himself a schooner.

If one looks at Page's profession as one who is out in the sea, than his perspective is quite interesting.  I'm sure it's hard staring at the waters every single day and waking up to the motion of the boat.  Even Page declared it wasn't easy, but to him, "No matter how much you love your wife, the sea is drawing you...I have so much love for the sea" (197).  He knows exactly what his passion is.

I wonder if Page's example portrays a similar picture to most cabdrivers.  And that is...they have a dream.  While Page's dream is to go back to the sea, it would be awesome to know why cabdrivers are cabdrivers.  Are they saving up money like Page?  Or do they simply enjoy their job?

Lucky Miller (Terkel, 198) is a complete opposite of Page.  He has been working as a cabdriver a lot longer than Page and is also younger.  His reasoning for entering the cabdriving business: "I've always known the city quite well.  I figured it was a way of meeting a lot of interesting, live, colorful people" (198).  If I ever became a cabdriver, it would be for this very reason.

I remember taking the taxi often in Korea.  Although it was cheap compared to the US, it was expensive in Korea.  However, I encountered all kinds of crab divers.  There were some who were incredibly kind, always helping me with any luggage I had.  There were others who were excited in having a foreigner in their car.  There were others that just wanted to drop people off as quickly as possible and get their money (these were the possessed, crazy drivers).  There were a couple of instances when I wondered if any of these drivers cared who was inside their taxi. 

When pushing aside all overuse of the same muscles, and the aches and pains that come with it, being a cabdriver is actually honored.  I admire those who constantly drive people here and there.  They've got to know every inch of a city and it is their choice if they want to get to know their customers.