PIRATE FEST 2018
Happy November. I think we made it through the season without
a direct hit from any hurricanes. Thank God. As I sit here writing
my latest Taxi Tale, I am waiting on a call from my daughter. She
is in the Panama City area and Hurricane Michael has just passed
through her area. I know she is fine, but the conditions of her
home are unknown.
I’m not the biggest fan of Pirate Fest, but I must confess I was
happy to see all the swashbucklers this year. Well, maybe not all
of them. It seems we have two types of pirates. We have the ones
that know how to behave and the ones that don’t. I think we had
an equal amount of both kinds this year. I worked Thursday, Friday
and Saturday nights, and other than the couple that didn’t have
six dollars cash for the fare, it was pretty smooth sailing. They
did however, offer me a Xanax instead of cash. I believe I told the
young man to stuff the Xanax up his keister and to get the bleep
away from me and my bus. However I said it, he got my point
and at least walked away. Not sure what he did with the pill. The
passengers on the bus where happy to know that their designated
driver takes his responsibilities seriously. To tell you the truth, I
don’t normally drink the day before I drive. I hate being hung over
and I’m not very pleasant to be around. Some of you probably
think I’m not pleasant to be around at all. Whatever.
On a normal weekend I know the Breezy drivers are working
harder than the police. However, Pirate Fest is definitely not a
typical weekend. Friday afternoon around 3:30pm I saw a high
speed chase in front of my house here on 14th St. It ended in
the parking lot of Hotel Tybee. I believe I saw the police pull their
weapons. That’s not something you see here on Tybee. That kind
of set the pace for Friday and Saturday night.
I thought it was pretty common knowledge that when an
emergency vehicle is coming from behind or coming towards
you, it is your responsibility to pull over until they pass. I can’t
believe I’m the only person that knows that law, but it is the law.
And as for pedestrians, that is a terrible time to cross the road. I
was heading south Saturday and as I was nearing Miller Ave., a
Tybee officer heading north lit up his or her blue lights. I started
32 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | NOV 2018
By Ron Goralczyk
slowing down and they tried to do a u-turn in front of me. I was
at a complete stop to give them room but I was literally the only
vehicle to stop. Needless to say, the u-turn was rerouted around
the bus and through a parking lot. The activity for the TIPD was
epic. In the future, if you see or hear an emergency vehicle, pull
over until they get past, it is the law. And it is safer for everyone.
I was told by a few that my last couple of Tales have seemed a
little bitter and sarcastic. I knew they were as I wrote them. I guess
what I’m saying is even I can’t be funny all the time. I mean I am
always funny in person, so if you need a laugh see me in person.
It’s funny that the only exciting thing that happened this weekend
was that a nice lady and her friends were catching a ride home.
I made a right turn and some older man yelled at me not to run
his dogs over. I was nowhere close to him or his dogs. I stopped
and said, “Excuse me?” He yelled at me again. I told him I would
never run over his dog or any other dog. But watch your mouth
because I would run you over. He didn’t think I was funny, but the
passengers did. My number one pet peeve is someone too lazy
not to use a turn signal. Number two is someone yelling at me. I
do yell back. Gladly.
Don’t forget to tip your wait staff and bartenders. Clean up after
yourself. And Go Breezy! Happy Thanksgiving!