Peezawoman Strikes Again!

Hi Folks,Well, Friday the 13th turned into Friday the 13th for me. While delivering pizza, my car got stuck in the mud (yanno... way out there near Oso, in the dark, unpaved road...) and my customer's neighbor had to get his big 'ol 4x4 with a big 'ol chain to pull me out!!! Panic... panic!! When I told the customer that the pizza was on me, she absolutely refused and gave me a cheque and included a tip!! The store owner agreed that we could send the customer and her neighbor a gift certificate for pizza!!!

That wasn't all, for the night, folks! On my way home from my next and last delivery, I was turning into Saratoga from Staples and yielded for traffic from my left, when, BAM! Girl behind me bashed my behind! I called 911 for the police to make an accident report. I told the 911 operator we had a "bumper-bashing!" (That's what we call it where I come from, folks!) She said, "A WHAT??" I said, "We had a BUMPER-BASHING!" She said, "WHAT??" THREE TIMES, folks! Then I asked the girl who "bumped into me" what y'all call it around here!! She said, "Fender Bender!" So I told the lovely 911 operator: "FENDER BENDER!" I mean, really, folks! Does this take a little bit of IMAGINATION or WHAT????

Now, before y'all grow alarmed, she did her lovely big Nissan a lot more damage than the scrape on my rear bumper. She dinged her front right side and broke her headlight. We chatted while waiting for the police, and it turns out, she's a 21-year-old, just qualified Registered Nurse who has just moved to Corpus. Her male friend around the same age, works for a pharmacy. He told me about one of the pharmacists who works there who is also South African. Well, not too much harm done, except that I do admit I was shaken up and didn't feel too good emotionally the next day.

Ahh... next day! What a night! Was raining on and off all night and delivering pizza in the rain is not your most pleasant pasttime. You'd think people were a little more appreciative of having their dinner delivered to them by a friendly, good natured soul? Well, some people are plain disagreeable. The worst is when there is not so much as a penny tip! Actually, a dollar helps more, but, well, maybe some folks just can't scratch it together. Standing at a dripping overhang, at night, and you're NOT allowed to go inside, while the customers root around looking for change (you'd think they would have had that covered when they placed the order, right?) is not exactly my idea of fun. However, I do so enjoy the animals that greet me... not to mention the littlies who get SO excited when the "Pizza Guy" comes to the door! Hehehe! Yeah, I know, I DID cut my hair short! Well... I must make mention of one of our customers. I truly got to the house 15 minutes after the order was placed, only to discover that I had forgotten to bring the credit card slip. On the offchance that the customer might have change, I called him on my cellphone to ask. He said he had none, to which I replied that I would be RIGHT BACK. Folks, I was back at the house within 30 minutes, TOPS, from the time he ordered! A cute little toddler came to the door and spoke to me in toddler talk. She was a real cutie. Her hair was pulled back in a little ponytail, and she had the prettiest little jeans and T-shirt on, and the cutest little shoes! She was talking to me in a language that only toddlers REALLY understand, but I spoke to her about the rain, and was she hungry? And didn't she look so pretty? And she agreed wholeheartedly. She gave me a big 'ol grin and really made my day! Her father, on the other hand, commented about the fact that they should have some free cheesy bread or cinnastix, because I went back to the store to fetch the credit card slip. Then he complained that he could not see the printing clearly on his copy and went to photocopy my copy!! Well, it takes ALL kinds to make this world. I do hope he appreciate what a lovely little soul his daughter is.

Then there's a regular customer, who is always polite and friendly and makes sure to tip the driver. The total, this time, came to 18.12. I brightly remarked, "Just like the overture!" She looked at me in a confused way. I said, "You know, Tchaikovsky? The overture with all the cannons?" A look of pleasure crept across her face as she understood the reference! I doubt that she had EVER expected a pizza delivery person to have THAT kind of exchange with her at the door!!! HA!

Why am I doing this, you might ask? Well... it keeps me moving... it connects me with people (even if just a little), and it puts money in my pocket immediately, while I'm still a student. I also don't have to think too hard, and, believe it or not, I do enjoy driving, and am learning to find my way around, pretty much like a rat in a maze! Hey, I can even listen to Michael Savage on the radio. The frustrating part is when I actually have to get out of the car, in the middle of an interesting thought or diatribe, and miss the next bit while I deliver the pizza. I'm just a little worried about my small, silver, Suzuki, with all the big, hulking SUV's on Texas roads! Ah well. Goes with the territory, right? I am sure there are not many people who would realize that an ex-dancer, ex-teacher, ex-administrative assistant to managing directors, and future CSR (certified shorthand reporter,) was standing at their door.