Musings from the back of an Uber
We're so totally dependent on cars. Thousands of years from now, will the human body have evolved so that we have no legs? Perhaps, like birds, we'll have appendages to allow us to fly. A sci-fi author has probably already written such a story.
But for now, we still have legs and we still need those cars — especially me. I need those cars because my legs don't work anymore.
On Cape Cod, I lived alone; here I live with my daughter and grandson. I've only lived in this area a few years and people often ask me to compare Cape Cod with California. What I mention most frequently are the friendliness of the people, the great weather, Andy's Local Market and Uber.
Through Uber, I have met some amazing people from all around the world — Iran, Peru, Pakistan, Haiti, Hong Kong, France, Florida and Poland, to name but a few. I use Uber almost daily and I engage most of the drivers in conversation.
I need a car to have a life in the community. To be part of the communities that make up my days — St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Abby's writing group, Karen's movie group, courses at College of Marin — I need transportation. That means Uber, for which I have an app on my iPhone.
Through Uber, I have met some amazing people from all around the world — Iran, Peru, Pakistan, Haiti, Hong Kong, France, Florida and Poland, to name but a few. I use Uber almost daily and I engage most of the drivers in conversation.
I don't engage everyone in conversation. For instance, on airplanes after an exchange of hellos with my seatmates I usually settle back to enjoy something on my Kindle unless one of them initiates conversation. I definitely would not talk to a passenger like the one who was recently described on NPR as taking off his shoes and proceeding to clip his toenails!
One Uber driver I had several days ago was dressed entirely in black, had black-rimmed sunglasses and wore a dark face mask. I decided maybe he was trying not just to keep out COVID, but the entire world. I said hello and thank you but that's all. But he was a rarity, most of the drivers are fascinating.
Marlene, who teaches in the Oakland school system, commented on how unruly and disrespectful kids are in the class