Monday, November 19, 2018

Those Were The Days

When I used to work in San Francisco, I had to cross the Bay Bridge in Highway 80. It is crowded during commute hours (at all times now). There is a special lane for cars with 3 or more passengers. I lived in El Cerrito and it would take about one hour and 15 minutes to reach my office. Thru car pool lane, I could reach my office in 25 minutes.
 
People who drive cars and don’t have 3 passengers in their cars will stop at the bus stop or the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station to pick up passengers. I used to go to the bus stop and everyday different people in different model cars will pick me up and drop me in my office.
 
 
One day, a stretch limousine stopped and the driver asked me if I wanted to go to San Francisco. I agreed and took the back seat. In the front was the driver and his wife. They both run a funeral home in San Francisco. He had 4 stretch limos for use during funeral services.
 
He asked me if I would like to be the third passenger every day. I agreed. He used to live very close to my home. He said he would pick me up at my home every morning and drop me off in my office. He thought I was doing him a big favor by being in his car as a third passenger.
 
Ricky (the driver) was a big showman. When we reach our office, he would ask me to wait in the car. He will come out of the driver seat, open the back door and let me out. When I get out of the limo, he will give me a big salute and bow slightly and say “have a good day sir”. Just to make fun so others who are entering the office building notice that.
 
One day when he was doing that routine, my Regional Vice President (Number 1 man for the entire Western Region) who was entering the office noticed that. He asked me if I was coming from the airport. (Side bar: Managers are allowed to go in limousine to and from the airport.) I said I am coming from home. He had a puzzled look. He asked coming from home in a stretch limo? I said yes and this is how I come every day.
 
He stared at me for 10 seconds and said “I think I am paying you too much money”. He then entered the office.
 
I went to office like this for 3 years until they transferred me to Salt Lake City, Utah.

15 comments:

  1. You WERE paid too much!!

    Regards,
    Western Region VP

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    1. Thanks for your comments Mr. GP. You are a nice guy since you did not show any jealousy.

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  2. Hahaha :) So you didn't clarify at all? Everyone must be so bewildered at your office, looking at the limo.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Ashwini. Everyone who worked around me know the whole story. Only my RVP did not know. I am sure, knowing him, he would have discussed this subject with my boss.

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  3. What a nice and lovely arrangement to be taken in limo daily from home to office by the same gentleman for three years and that speaks high of his kind disposition and your affable nature.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Mr.LP. We used to talk a lot during the 30 minute ride each morning.It was a win win situation. I was saving time and money. He was saving time and thought I was doing a big favor to him.

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  4. That should've been fun. The driver's office was near yours too, I guess? Maybe that's why he was travelling on the same route daily?

    Destination Infinity

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    1. Thanks for your comments Rajesh. It was real fun.
      We used to discuss lot of subjects during the 30 minute ride each morning. HIs funeral home was not near my office. But he has to go via my office to his place of business.

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  5. This is very interesting! The arrangement is beneficial to both of you! You must be in touch with each other even now. So much discussions for three years' duration:)

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    1. Thanks for your comments Sandhya. Long time No see. what happened? We are still in touch, like 3 or 4 phone calls to each other during festival times.

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  6. A good chance to travel for three years in a Limo and that made the RVP envy you. Some people think that luxury is their birthright.Nice topic.

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  7. Now I understand why most of them take the metro and share taxi ;) anyhow I loved the post . Interesting till the end .

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  8. Hahaha! I am imagining the RVP's reaction. :D
    What a fun experience and traveling by limo to work for 3 years... super super cool!

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  9. Somehow this reminds me of a TV series I love : Six Feet Under! Fun incident :) :D

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