Friends recently pointed out that I seem to be a magnet for “unusual encounters”. Since moving to New York, I had my suspicions, but then I assumed that everyone who lived in NYC had these types of experiences, they just didn’t write about them. “No, my friends assured me I was unique! Maybe so, you be the judge.

   On a lovely evening in late spring, I met my grandson and his girlfriend for dinner in Chelsea (how lucky am I?!). After dinner, it started to rain, so I decided to walk up a few blocks to Tenth Avenue (for non-NYers, Tenth was the closest avenue going in the right direction) and catch a cab home.  I saw cabs go by before I got to the corner, but when I got there….cab desert! As I stood with my arm outstretched, an attractive young woman came up behind me and said she had been watching me (really, why?), stating that she had “cab karma” and was going to help me.

   Did she think I was too old to be trying to catch a cab, I wondered?  I thought I looked pretty cool in my short white sweater, casual slouchy trousers, and much-loved Converse sneakers. But she was behind me, so how was that even possible? As it turned out, she had zero “cab karma” but for some odd reason, wanted to be my new best friend. I, however, needed a cab, not a new best friend, and continued to stand with my arm outstretched as she continued talking.  Introducing herself as Nicole, she asked my name. “Florence,” she exclaimed loud enough to cause a few people to turn around, “that’s my favorite name!” (Believe me when I tell you that it’s no one’s favorite name!) I didn’t want to be rude, but I had to get rid of her, and decided to call an Uber. She, however, was not to be deterred.

   “Oh no, I will get you a cab,” Nicole said as she ran up the street. With no cabs in sight and determined to get home I called an Uber. Wow, a car was two minutes away, and I was getting a discount, so it would only cost me $15!  Meanwhile, Nicole actually had found a cab and was shrieking my name and frantically motioning to me from across the street. I shook my head no and yelled I was all set. Just then, a police car pulled up behind the cab with its lights flashing. She was still yelling my name and waving at me, so to make her stop before one of us got arrested, I crossed the street. The word ‘Uber’ was hardly out of my mouth when she grabbed my phone, punched in some numbers, and informed me she had just canceled my car. What?! Who does this? I grabbed my phone back and knew I needed to end this crazy scenario quickly. As “take-charge Nicole” headed to the police car to explain an unexplainable situation, I decided to make my escape and jumped into the cab. But wait…it wasn’t over yet. Before the cab could pull away, Nicole’s head appeared in the open window. “Get my lady home safe,” she instructed the driver, and then shouted, “I love you,” to me as the cab pulled away.  

  My ick factor was over the top, not to mention, this was the most expensive ride home ever, $25 for the cab and $15 for the Uber (which was not cancelled).  Will I ever learn not to talk to strangers?!