I drive part-time for a well known car and truck leasing company, and we comprise a band of twelve just men; most of whom are retired from their real jobs and engage in this driving lark for comaradrie and some pocket money. I should say we used to be men because I don’t remember discussing shows like “Downton Abbey” and exchanging recipes with other males when I was young and handsome.
Well, one of the stalwarts of the group, Nick the Greek, retired recently through ill health. It was a mixed blessing because he was the on the wrong side of 80 and the speed and volume of traffic on state roads (expressways, motorways ) was beginning to make him nervous. So much so that a few years ago he convinced an unsuspecting driving associate to take side roads from Atlanta to Savannah when they delivered a car to a customer. Normally, its a 275 mile route one way and a round trip normally takes 8 hours. On this occasion they clocked up over 14 hours by taking what Nick called a short cut!
Nick is a second generation Greek and is extremely proud of his heritage. He could have been a consultant on the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” He was adamant that his children should only marry fellow Greeks, but apparently he’s having a battle convincing his grandchildren to follow suit.
Nick was a banker by profession, and to say he was careful with him money would be like referring to Shylock and Fagin as benevolent benefactors. We usually grab lunch in fast food restaurants, but Nick would bring his own lunch, lovingly prepared by his wife, and sit at the table with us. However, one time, we had lunch in a burger bar which had waiter service. When the waiter asked him what he would like to order he replied: “I’m on a special diet (the cheap skate diet.”) The waiter asked him if he would like a glass of water, and without batting an eyelid Nick replied: “yes please, but could I have some ice and a slice lemon with the water please?”
Nick is a deeply religious man and is heavily involved in the Greek Orthodox Church. A couple of years ago he became an Archon which is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a civilian in the GOC. One of the uninitiated amongst the drivers asked him: “How did you get the part of Archon in the forthcoming Star Wars movie?” Nick gave him a withered look and bit into the remainder of his homemade sandwich.
Nick is not at all demonstrative or given to theatrical outbursts like some of the other diverse characters on the team, but equally does not take himself too seriously and occasionally has a twinkle in his eye with a sense of the ridiculous.
One of the funniest moments of his driving career involved retrieving an old box truck from one of the customers. The customer informed us that the truck was tucked at the back of the warehouse and could only exit the building in reverse.
Unfortunately the reverse gear was not working and the truck would have to pushed manually outside. Nick was instructed to sit behind the wheel while two burly drivers and myself attempted to push the vehicle to its destination. We were making little progress until Shrek (one of the burly drivers weighing in at over 300 pounds packed into a 6′ 7″ frame) becoming quite crimson in the face screeched: ” Nick has got the effing brake on!”
Nick, get well soon.
