Post — Word On The Curb DC

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

I have two confessions to make: Firstly, I’m an Uber driver… Secondly, I LOVE IT!... Never mind the fact that I enjoy a 5-star rating after a month behind the wheel; and, this experience at first only served to be an employment-bridge after re-re-locating to Washington, D.C . What really motivates me in this adventure are the people who entrust me with their safe care and passage. And to all those people (aka passengers), I say thank you!

Perhaps it strange to have robust and thought-provoking conversations with one’s passengers; but as I think back on all of those conversations, truth be told, the passengers started it!... You see, I’m fascinated with human engagement, and feel it absolutely necessary to lend a kind ear and thoughtful response to their socialization. And growing up, Mom would always say, “its just nice to be nice…” Indeed it is! So nice, in fact, that I come away each day inspired by the personal anecdotes shared with me during the day.

Again, I don’t ask for these revelations, but find it hard to not be engaging when the lady with Cancer, looking for distraction and cheer in the aisles of Walmart after a long morning of doctors visits in her battle with cancer, tells me of she and her college-enrolled daughter’s quest to raise two adorable kittens. Your hug of thanks on your porch after helping with the bags gave purposeful meaning to an otherwise routine day… Or, the young lady from the Southside of Chicago, who has founded a hospitality consultancy for disenfranchised-but-willing applicants in the fields of bartending and waitressing. Your tales of service to your neighbors and the intellectual prowess of a boyfriend concocting a pH-balanced water for African Americans, is the source of a well-spring of inspiration to me and others… Or, the young fella with aspirations of becoming a war correspondent. You reminded me of an early-life aspiration I had of becoming a peace correspondent. I pray for the day we all have greater aspirations for all things peaceful…

Then there was the Capitol Hill employee and Mom, who after a long day at the office requested a stop to get pizza before heading home. You inspire as the personification of “work-life balance” and all-around cool Mom... Or, the father from Texas with ties to TCU, in DC to visit his daughter. And the mother, en route to the airport to see her daughter run a cross-country meet for Notre Dame, who shared my same surprise at the coincidence of being at the same national track meet at Texas A&M last year. Both of you parents show immense amounts of pride in your progeny. You would serve as inspirational examples to all current and prospective parents the whole world over…

To the trio of individual passengers (aka UberPool; and all of us DC residents) who entertained me while passing the time in traffic. Your collegial embrace of each other, while from very disparate places and experiences [the likes of which include a female native-Puerto Rican, just back from checking on her parents and volunteering in-relief; a retired native-New Yorker weary of whether her mother should stay in FL post-storms; and the Ohioan farm-boy, who now advocates for wheat growers on Capitol Hill], you all inspire a cooperation so badly needed in our country right now… Or, the many Texans I have coincidentally ferried throughout the city. You all inspire a similar hope I have that a progressive wind would sweep across our beloved native state. And yes, DC does have a state income tax!…

And, to the Former Marine and current State Depa rtment employee, who long after the trip was completed and the meter was turned off, helped me in drafting a global peace accord. It began at “respect” and ended with “reconciliation.”

We all want reconciliation of presence, purpose and perspective. This I have learned from driving Uber... This is my Uber story, and I’m sticking to it!