I've been having quite the time on Uber these days. Stopped leasing a second car, saving on insurance, parking, gas and most of all hassle from my New Jersey home to New York City. Trying to convince my girlfriend that I'm not wasting money on my daily rides back and forth to the city. Most importantly, I get to read, sip my coffee, talk on the phone, or hobnob with the driver. Besides, she lives in my house, drives my car, and doesn't contribute a cent. She does order dinner.
Uber has been so calming- I arrive in midtown Manhattan relaxed because I'm oblivious to the bad drivers, the folks that have to cross on red, the kamikaze bike messengers. Until this week. Two things happened. First, I was in an Uber car with an Uzbecki driver just as it came over the radio that the terrorist who mowed down folks on the bike path with a rented truck was an Uzbecki Uber driver. We both heard it at the same time and the look of shame mixed with fear on the driver's face in his rearview mirror calmed any thoughts I might have had. I've been in London and Paris during terror attacks and I'm not naive or pollyanish in any way. I'm just not inclined to racial or ethnic profiling. What are the odds some religious fanatic in an Uber car in the many cities where I use the service has something nefarious in mind? Not high, i guess, but don't we weigh events not by their probabilities but by our aversion to them?
The second episode also took me off my game but it was much more pleasant. An Uber driver in her late 30s hit on me. I think it was my mobile conversations that piqued her interest. I was talking about an upcoming biz trip to the Skandies and mentioning that my girlfriend doesn't like to travel with me. I actually am not enthusiastic about introducing her to business folks as I'm not sure this thing is not coming to an end. I wasn't aware she was listening since I was speaking somewhat softly and she had jazz playing over the radio. I was wearing headphones so I heard perfectly. I guess I was too loud.
Part of the conversation was about an art gallery in New Hope, Pennsylvania that I'd like to visit. It doesn't pay to fly from New York and get an Uber in Philly or somewhere near by. I thought maybe I'd get a private limo service to take me there for the day.
Well, my driver apologized for listening in on my conversation and offered to take me there for nothing other than gas and tolls. Her charge? I show her how to look at art. I thanked her for the offer but told her I think I'd like to stay overnight in a motel. She said something could be worked out.
I was pretty taken aback since this was all unexpected. By the time I got in the house, I had to shift my bag from my shoulder to covering my lap as it was pretty obvious how I felt about this invitation.
I've just discovered that you can look up the driver from past trips. I need to find a way to locate her. I think we're going to New Hope.
Uber has been so calming- I arrive in midtown Manhattan relaxed because I'm oblivious to the bad drivers, the folks that have to cross on red, the kamikaze bike messengers. Until this week. Two things happened. First, I was in an Uber car with an Uzbecki driver just as it came over the radio that the terrorist who mowed down folks on the bike path with a rented truck was an Uzbecki Uber driver. We both heard it at the same time and the look of shame mixed with fear on the driver's face in his rearview mirror calmed any thoughts I might have had. I've been in London and Paris during terror attacks and I'm not naive or pollyanish in any way. I'm just not inclined to racial or ethnic profiling. What are the odds some religious fanatic in an Uber car in the many cities where I use the service has something nefarious in mind? Not high, i guess, but don't we weigh events not by their probabilities but by our aversion to them?
The second episode also took me off my game but it was much more pleasant. An Uber driver in her late 30s hit on me. I think it was my mobile conversations that piqued her interest. I was talking about an upcoming biz trip to the Skandies and mentioning that my girlfriend doesn't like to travel with me. I actually am not enthusiastic about introducing her to business folks as I'm not sure this thing is not coming to an end. I wasn't aware she was listening since I was speaking somewhat softly and she had jazz playing over the radio. I was wearing headphones so I heard perfectly. I guess I was too loud.
Part of the conversation was about an art gallery in New Hope, Pennsylvania that I'd like to visit. It doesn't pay to fly from New York and get an Uber in Philly or somewhere near by. I thought maybe I'd get a private limo service to take me there for the day.
Well, my driver apologized for listening in on my conversation and offered to take me there for nothing other than gas and tolls. Her charge? I show her how to look at art. I thanked her for the offer but told her I think I'd like to stay overnight in a motel. She said something could be worked out.
I was pretty taken aback since this was all unexpected. By the time I got in the house, I had to shift my bag from my shoulder to covering my lap as it was pretty obvious how I felt about this invitation.
I've just discovered that you can look up the driver from past trips. I need to find a way to locate her. I think we're going to New Hope.
