Monday, January 18, 2021
I worked with Jeff at Mears Taxi. We would stand in line before 5am waiting our turn to check out a cab. Occasionally a computer glitch would prevent a driver from getting a car for the day. It was easily rectified, but only by the operations managers who didn't start til 8am. One morning when this happened to Jeff he volunteered a diatribe to the cashier that would make a sailor jealous. I was next in line. Finishing his lecture, he turned to me and said, "Hey man, i'm sorry. I kinda lost my cool."
I said, "no problem, you had me at %#!$*@* dumb@$$"
That was the first time we'd ever said anything to the other besides "good morning". From then on we were friends.
Jeff incorrectly assumed i was an old timer in the taxi business and started seeking advice. But it didn't take me long to realize his unfounded assessment of me was immaterial. When he had a problem or question, his way of phrasing and then presenting it usually included the answer. After one such conversation i quoted Mark Twain, "I've known many troubles in my life. Most of them never happened." Jeff and i played catch with that axiom many times.
He drove an old silver or champagne colored Honda to work, at least for a while. It made such an awful and loud noise it woke the drunks up sleeping on the sidewalk near the shop. One early morning a shiny black car pulled up by the driver's entrance just as i was entering. When Jeff got out of the back seat i asked about his car. "I'm starting a junk yard and the Honda is car #1".
Jeff and i both were friends (or at least familiar) with Bill W. This piece of common ground often led to conversations of encouragement for our mutual spiritual improvement. Thank you Jeff.
Another thing we shared was our personal geography. He grew up in Ocala and i in Leesburg. He knew much local history about Silver Springs, Six Gun Territory, the Forest, Cross Florida Barge Canal, etc...
After my parents retired they moved to Homossassa Springs. As I recall that's where Jeff would go to visit his mama.
But never was the coincidence of our local roots so palpable as when we stood waiting in line for a taxi at 5 am. Out of ten guys; 3 from Haiti, 4 from Puerto Rico, 1 from Queens, and 2 that knew where Okahumpka was.
This morning, January 18th, at about 5:30 am, when i saw Jeff's picture and read Heather's announcement, i cried. I have not lost a sibling so i can not imagine what sadness that must cause.
Although i only knew Jeff for a couple of years, he improved the quality of my life for all time. I'm glad i met him and i'm sorry he is gone.
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