6723 is gone. 1168 is still around...

yesterday the day was alright...things were flowing and not much happening. 6723 usually sticks around with me till six when my shift is over and we no longer provide the bicycle courier service. he stated that he might need to leave early which was no big deal to me...the man is getting married and as some of you know, i understand the work involved. anyway, its around five-15 or so and he's still around...or so, i thought. he was rocking out a delivery for me when all of a sudden i can't get him on the radio...sh*t. i don't panic cause i have other cats sticking around and i should be ok.

the next day i expect to hear two-three on the radio at his usual start time...ten. not today...i don't hear nothing. i knew right there and then that he was no longer with us. i've known 6723 for quite a while...he's been with several companies and has been around the industry for many years. he keeps saying he'll leave but somehow the messenger field keeps calling his name. it's one of the easiest industries to pick up a job but it's also one of the easiest to leave.

6723...(over the regular phone)hey julio...umm, yeah, i guess you know, i quit.

j.dot...yeah, yeah, yeah...whatever kid.

6723...i got some news about another gig thats gonna pay good money so you know what i got to do.

j.dot...yeah kid. no worries. do your thing.

6723...i just really hate my bike right now and...well, you know how it is.

j.dot...you ain't gotta tell me kid. why do you think i dispatch now? good luck with all that jazz...

...btw, im invited to some after wedding party which is good. like i've said, i've known this cat for quite some time and i completely understand where he's coming from. after a while the bicycle can become an enemy of sorts. sure it's fun but when it's your main form of income it can become a very hateful relationship...especially if it's not coming through with loot. this industry can really weigh heavy on a messengers shoulders...there's alot to deal with out there...i completely understand the reasons for high turn-over. i know, i know...they're all just numbers but i am gonna miss the cat.

on the other side of the coin...1168. this cat has been around for a long, long, long time. sure he's annoying as hell but the man knows the city like no other. he knows every building procedure, knows how to get to every silly address, and, although he is getting older, can rock out packages just as fast as some of the younger cats when he wants to. as he puts it..."i understand spreading the love but you can't forget those that have been around longer". we try not to forget about them but we still continue to spread the love equally. 1168 has been helping the car board out alot more lately...why? cause we're slow and the man needs to be hooked up.

couriers...how do i get there?

j.dot...call 1168. he knows that noise...he'll help you get in there.

...the man knows his sh*t and i have no problems going to him to help me out...he's my eyes on the street, a second dispatcher, a good man, and a veteran. they're all just numbers but some of those numbers carry weight...peace.