It was right after midnight on New Year’s Eve 2011. As expected, the Gaslamp crowd was hustling for a ride home, including Gina. This was before the days of shared rides, and taxis ruled the market.
Another girl, just as inebriated if not more so than Gina, stood at the corner. She held onto the streetlight pole to keep steady, and Gina soon found out, they were heading towards the same neighborhood. Fuzzy as her thoughts were, Gina thought it made perfect sense that she and that girl share a ride.
While everyone else on the street were competing for the attention of cabbies, a miracle appeared before Gina and the girl. A van door opened to let them in. Yes! They have a ride home. The driver dropped off the girl first. When she asked for the fare, the driver asked for just five dollars. Gina thought, “Score! What a cheap ass ride!” Minutes later, the van stopped in front of Gina’s house. Once again, he asked for only five dollars.
Grateful for her safe return, Gina walked out of the van. As it pulled away, she caught the words AIRPORT SHUTTLE.