Ding!
That’s the sound a driver hears as Uber summons us to share a ride. Most often, we carry on a superficial conversation or ride in silence. Last week, once again, I learned how different we humans can be. All of these in one day!
Ding! I picked up Randall, an attorney. The contest began! Who would win the verbosity battle? It is the rare individual who can compete with me in a talkstorm, but Randall is one!
After I completed my book pitch, I realized that he was raring to tell his story. I shut up.
“You know, I once received a one-star as a rider from an Uber driver in New York. As we drove through the city, I pointed out to him that I had been responsible for developing a section of Brooklyn for the Barclays Center basketball arena. I had to juggle the regulations to acquire the footprint for the expansion.”
“Once the ride ended, the driver told me that his grandmother had been evicted in that process. He had a few expletives for me as I left the vehicle. He gave me a one-star.”
That story was one of several from Randall. I had never seen the series starring Billy Bob Thornton called Landman. He said he lived out the drama himself in Oklahoma and had witnessed some of the activities of the cartel in those areas. He believed that the series was closer to the truth than comfortable.
Ding #2!
Another ride from a very different environment. I drove down a rutted, gouged dirt road to a trailer. Andy struggled to get into my car.
“I’m going through some tough cancer battles. I’ve beaten it before, but it’s spread, and I have to take chemo to fight it.”
“Right now, my wife and I are living in that trailer back there. The owner gave us a deal we could afford, but it’s not in the best condition. It doesn’t have any kind of sewer, so we have to ‘poop in a pot’ and carry it outside.”
“My wife has been through two cases of breast cancer and had one breast removed each time. She’s in pretty good shape, though.”
“We found a piece of land that we can put an RV on for $400.00/month. I’ve got a lead on an RV from a fellow who will sell it to me for $3,500.00. He swears it still runs well, but I’ve not been able to get him to return my call.”
I was amazed at his positive attitude. I wondered how his finances were holding up with these challenges. He told me their Social Security was enough for them to live in the RV, and his insurance covered their medical expenses.
“When we get our RV, we plan on traveling around the country and visiting our four daughters and ten grandchildren. As long as I have my medical documents, I can get chemo anywhere.”
Wow.
Ding #3!
I arrived at an apartment complex to pick up Jennifer. She said she needed a few minutes and told me I could park behind the police car. She told me I would be taking Marcus to the airport.
Shortly later, three women, a policeman, and a young man approached my car. Marcus had his arms full of bags and luggage, while another gentleman came up with more items. Marcus asked him to get something that was still in his apartment.
My rider turned to one of the ladies and said, “I was told not to show up for work today or tomorrow. Did that have anything to do with this?”
Jennifer told him, “You no longer work there. You will be going back to Slovenia. There is a phone number on the sheet I’ve given you to call when you reach the airport.”
“Can you tell me what I did?” he asked.
After a short discussion, she said, “You’ve displayed inappropriate behavior, so you will be going home to Slovenia. Any other details will be provided at that phone number.
As he got into my car, I mentioned to the ladies that I had a book coming out and that I write a weekly blog. I said out loud, “Please check out my webpage – my email address is there.” Then I silently mouthed, “Let me know what’s going on here!” They never did.
Marcus and I carried on a conversation on the way. He said that he had no idea what behavior they were accusing him of. He said there were dozens of students from Slovenia and Croatia on a summer work program. He was working as the head bellman at the facility and thought everything was fine.
“I haven’t told my family yet. I know they’ll be very upset. I live on the border of Italy and Slovenia. I have no future there. I hope they don’t charge me a fine. I hope that they only ban me for five years and I can try to come back again.”
We reached the airport and I wished him luck. He thanked me and began looking around the area for someone he expected to meet. That person had his tickets.
Three rides – three different situations. What a day!
Thanks, and God Bless,
Tommy
***
If you’re reading this on Tuesday, our countdown is two days. My book will be released on Thursday, July 16. Please share the new website with as many people as possible. www.tommyfulton.com
Here’s the link: Kindle version
The paperback is available on July 16, but it’s not available for pre-purchase. I appreciate your support!)