THE BIG FLY

I am on the longest vacation of my life (5 weeks). I have so much to write about I am starting my "vacation blogs" before I get home.  

During our lives, I am sure we have all had a couple good battles with a fly, wasp, bee, or something crawling on the ground. We win sometimes, we lose sometimes, but who's keeping score?

I can't remember exactly when my battles started, but I've been pretty good at getting flies.  I would grab a flyswatter, newspaper, or magazine, and I would go after that fly. I would show the fly how serious I was by taking off my shirt. (No picture or video is available) My secret was to trap the fly in the bathroom.  On some occasions my son would follow in my footsteps by removing his shirt and the two of us would search the house for the fly that was going to die.

Out here in Colorado, we are staying at our daughter's house and sleeping in a small bedroom. Last night, around 10:30 pm., we had a visitor, a BIG fly.  It may have been a "Queen fly" or a "King fly".  It was in a hurry and I got it into the small bathroom and it disappeared.  Here I am, with towel in hand, looking at the cabinet I think it went in to.  I shut the cabinet and had it trapped.

Ten minutes later it came out of nowhere and I got some good swings at it. I am pretty sure I heard the distress signal go out, "Mayday, Mayday, there's a large, old and tired human changing my wind currents. Need emergency landing, somewhere.  NOW!"

Once again it disappeared and then reappeared.  I had it where I wanted it, or it had me where it wanted me.  Four times he vanished and the last time I surrendered.  I closed the bathroom door to let it rest since it was getting tired and we went to sleep.

The next morning it was gone.  Where did it go?  There is a vent and the sink and shower drain, one of them had to be the escape route.  I was too big to check them out and Ant Man was not available.  But, if it returns, I'm taking my shirt off and I will complete my mission.

Really Going The Extra Mile

I loved this story from a few months ago.  I believe it's important to go the extra mile and some people go way beyond the extra mile. Alvin Gauthier is a postal worker in Grand Prairie, Texas, who in April found undelivered letters at work from 1943-1945. The letters were from World War 11 Army veteran Marion Lamb, but they had no address on them.

What did he do? He made a lot of phone calls and finally found out that the family lived in Arkansas.  He said, "I could have stuck them in the mail, but it's kind of like sometimes you have to above and beyond."  On his day off he traveled 379 miles to deliver the mail to the sister of Marion Lamb. 

The letters got separated from a package that was being sent to her.  Gauthier used to send letters to his parents when he was serving in Iraq and knew how important the letters were.  There are a lot of great people in this country and this guy is certainly one of them.

                                

MY MOST MEMORABLE RIDER COMMENTS IN JULY

I picked up the young woman from Atlanta and I told her that I spread sunshine in my car and my business name is, "The Sunshine Man." She said, "What happens when you're in a bad mood, do they call you rain cloud?" 

Pointing to the large Boeing plant, he said, "That's where the bodies of the whistleblowers are buried."

The couple in their 60's (?) told me what they just did in 90-degree temperatures: "We just walked six miles in 2 1/2 hours and did 17,000 steps to go to this seafood place."

I asked the enthusiastic woman who had just opened a restaurant, "How are you today?" She said, "If I was any better, I'd be you. I'm as smooth as cream cheese on a bagel. I got up this morning and I didn't pee in my bed; it's a good day."

A young guy from New York, "I saw a mannequin in a car that you push a button and the head turns towards the window and raises its hand and gives you the finger."

I asked them how they met and she said, "He was staying next door to me and I needed someone to clean up from my three dogs and I paid him to do it. Later I asked him if he'd be interested in renting an extra room from me. He did and we became close friends before we started dating."

I asked the couple, "How long have you been dating?" She said, "Officially twenty minutes.  He flew me here from Louisville, Kentucky to ask me to be his girlfriend."

He: "Growing up in the ghetto in Texas they did not like the band Kiss very much."

"Good karma comes back to you in many different ways."

I asked the chef, "What is your favorite thing to cook?" She said, "I like to cook edible food for humans."

He: "I've had the same breakfast for a year, three pieces of peanut buttered toast, a banana and chocolate milk."

After three ankle surgeries, the young woman said, "With my luck I'd go in the water and a shark would bite my leg off."

Just after the couple got in my car, another man walked over to the front passenger window and wanted to tell me something. He said, "You know how you hear about those serial killers that you would never expect and sometimes an Uber driver disappears?" He pointed to the couple in the car-his neighbors.

I asked the Jamaican woman living in Myrtle Beach for two years, "How do you like living here?" She said, "It's just okay, " and started laughing.  Me: "It's just okay? People come here every year for decades. Should we put a big sign at the airport that says, "WELCOME-It's Just Okay Here."

I was picking up four young women at the beach and one of them flagged me down in the middle of the street in her bikini. She calls herself, "Fashionably Freddy." I told her she was easy to spot in her bikini and she said, "I do that all the time."

Talking about the car crash I was in where my wife's car was totaled, my rider said, "They can make another car, but they can't make another you."

The young woman told me, "I was a flight attendant first and then went to school for flight training.  I've been a pilot for five years and I love it. I had never been anywhere and I wasn't going anywhere before that."

I asked the young guy who is a Star Wars fanatic, "What are your favorite words in any of the Star Wars movies?" He said, "Move along." (From the stormtroopers)

I asked him, "How did you get the nickname of Bear?" He: "My family is the only one who calls me that and they started when I was born."

He: "I became a grandfather a couple months ago. When they visited us from another state, my wife cut in front of me at the door and held our granddaughter. After a while I took my granddaughter and walked out the back door telling them we were going for a walk. In the woods, my favorite place, I put dirt on her feet and returned to the house. I told them that's what happens when you walk in the woods. They weren't very happy with me the rest of the day."

MORE RIDER COMMENTS

The positive woman told me, "Whatever happens I don't let it bother me."

"I love being a grandma-it's a different kind of love."

She moved to a place that was not fun all the time because, "I like a balance of chill and fun."

I asked her, "How long have you been a Mortgage senior processor?" She said, "Since I was born, I like being part of someone's adventure."

"If you're bored in the Charleston area, there's something wrong with you."

The Spanish teacher is starting to do comedy. She told me, "I started doing voices when I was 5."

"Some people have champagne taste and a beer budget."

She: "The New York Times said that Augusta, Georgia was the worst place to raise a child in the country."

She: "I went to an auto parts store for a battery and they actually put it in backwards and damaged the car. I'm going to be without it for a week."

He: "A lot of traffic is the hazard of living in Houston, Texas."

The accountant did work for Turbo Tax and this surprised him, "There were a number of people making $300-$400,000 dollars who didn't trust an accountant to do their taxes."

She: "Moving to Myrtle Beach was the best move I've ever made. I haven't met a mean person in five years."

He: "One day at work a guy in sales brought in his son's Heisman Trophy. People kept going into his office to hold it and take a picture of it."

"My mom gave me advice that if someone is in a bad mood, ask them a question.  If they talk and answer you, their mood will get better."

The Cleveland Browns fan told me, "We enjoy pain."

Telling my Franco Harris story, the woman mistakenly thought I had Franco's son in my car and he didn't know about his dad's legendary catch."

The Uber driver from Honduras said, "There's a lot more traffic in Honduras."

COMMENTS ABOUT LILY MY MANNEQUIN:

"I love this, it's so unique."

"She is epic."

"My dad had a souvenir store and he had a bunch of mannequins in the back room. I asked him if I could have some and I took three. I painted them and named them Ms. Lewis, Mr. Galaxy butterfly and Mr. Styrofoam.  I have them in my room."

"Who is this lovely lady?"

"You don't talk to her, do you?"

The woman from Chicago as she was leaving said, "Goodbye Lily."

"She's a little annoying, I'm really scared of them."

"One day I'll have a mannequin to donate to an Uber driver."

"It's a little creepy."

"My friend kept a mannequin in her room and dressed her up when she was in high school."

"Is this your companion?"

"In my cosmetology class in high school we had mannequin heads. We had to shave the hair off so we could learn all the bones on the head."

COMMENTS ABOUT ME AND MY CAR:

"This just blows my marbles out of my pockets."

"This is a blast."

"A legendary Uber."

"This is so cool, I haven't even looked out the window."

"We need more Uber drivers like you, you're different."

"There should be more Ubers like this."

"This is the most interesting and entertaining Uber. You made my day."

"This is the best Uber ride I've ever had, I've never seen anything like this."

"I love you, you're awesome man."

"Your best self is being an Uber driver."

"You made my morning really good."

"That was wonderful."

Former Uber driver, "I'm very proud of you."

The two New Jersey girls wrote, "Thank you so much.  You made our experience so enjoyable. We hope to see you again."

After giving me the large tip she said, ""I am very grateful for your generosity and ease to help. In a world with so much hate and bitterness, and in a time where I needed a shift in outlook (after a personally dark year for me), it is the least I could do."

When the older woman got out of my car at her church on a Sunday morning, she patted me on the shoulder and said, "The lord is blessing you."

The Mexican man who spoke only a little English, asked, "Can I get your number, because this is a perfect car for my family.

"Thank you for brightening my day."

"Loved all the stories."

"I love it, such a fun Uber!"

"This makes the ride more interesting and enjoyable."

"Thanks for talking to me."

"I like your museum."

"I've never been in an Uber like this."

A guy from Ukraine, "Your Ukraine bill is very old, like a coupon. I can get you a newer one."

"I wish I had foreign money to give you."

"This is the most interesting Uber I've ever been in."

"It sounds like you're a fun driver."

"Can I have your autograph?"

MY MOST MEMORABLE RIDERS IN JULY

 It's a short month of driving, but I met a lot of incredibly interesting, generous, and funny people.

HE DID WHAT? 

He's just a normal guy who has the habit of doing abnormal things. Married for thirty-nine years, he met his wife when he was cashing his check in the local supermarket. Going out on their first date he told me, "She looked a lot better not in her supermarket uniform." After dating awhile, she asked him what his intentions were and he said, "I'll think about it and get back to you." 

Returning home that day, his roommate was packing and decided he was going out to California.  He asked him if he wanted to go and he said, "Hell yeah!" Two days later he called his girlfriend who didn't believe he was in California. He said he'd be back in a month, but he was gone for a year and she waited for him.

Two months ago, he became a grandfather. When the new parents showed up at their house, "My wife cut in front of me and held our granddaughter. After awhile I took her and walked to the back of the house and told everyone we were going to take a walk.  The woods are my favorite place.  I took some dirt and put it on her feet and then walked inside.  I told them that's what happens when you walk in the woods. They weren't very happy with me the rest of the day." I wonder why?

THE FUNNY CHEF

The ride was maybe five minutes long, but she had me laughing.  When I asked how she was doing, she said, "If I was any better, I'd be you.  I'm as smooth as cream cheese on a bagel. When I got up this morning and I didn't pee in my bed, it's a good day.'" I told her she needed to put some lox on her bagel too since she had never tried it.  She just opened a Japanese restaurant and she's been a chef for many years.  I asked, "What's your favorite dish to cook?" She said, "I cook edible food for humans." I hope I get to drive her again, she put on quite a performance.

PERFECTLY PITTSBURGH

My favorite state to pick people up from is Pennsylvania. and this couple and his sister gave me a perfect ending to my day. Telling my Franco Harris story, his sister thought I said that I drove Franco Harris's son and he didn't know anything about his dad's legendary catch.  We all broke up laughing, but she did say that her husband bought a Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl ring for $10,000. Amazingly, her brother told me that Franco had refused to give him an autograph one day, despite his reputation as being a great guy.

 His wife was a probation officer and he was sheriff, the first time out of 14,000 rides I have driven someone with those occupations.  He told me a bizarre story that he went to a arrest a guy and, "He had about 120 poisonous snakes in his house, each one in their own aquarium which lined up against his wall in this living room." In between these comments and stories I entertained them with a bunch of things including stories about my two favorite riders, both from Pennsylvania.  

A TAILOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

It took only a minute or two to realize that this guy was dedicated and exceptional at what he did.  He worked for three companies and loved doing it. He was a "high end tailor" and definitely a perfectionist.  I was fortunate that we got stuck in a 20-25 delay due to an accident.  He was very outgoing, engaging and entertaining. I was surprised when he told me that communicating with people has been a challenge for him.

I asked him if he could go to a wedding or big event without looking at how everyone's clothes fit, and he laughed and said he could not. He told me, "It's a blessing when I can go to one without being called out for an emergency to look at someone's clothes." He told me that some people have "champagne taste and a beer budget." I probably don't have either, but if I need a tailor I know who to contact.  It was a great way to end my day driving, he was extraordinary.

A YEN FOR YOU

A month ago I received a $1,000 yen from a woman who had recently visited from Japan.  This month a guy got in my car and in the first 60 seconds said, "I have a yen for you."  His mom is Japanese and he had just come back from visiting Japan. He saw my money and pulled out this 10,000 yen which is worth $62 here. He wanted me to have it and it's easily the most valuable bill I have in my collection.

THE SPANISH TEACHER WHO DOES COMEDY

Another fun ride from New Jersey with a Spanish teacher, her husband and daughter.  She taught me something in Spanish, how to say, "I have." The word is "tengo." She surprised me by saying that she just started doing comedy as a hobby. She has an incredible ability to do a lot of voices with accents. She said, "I started when I was five years old." I encouraged her to continue to pursue it.  She's obviously comfortable speaking in front of people and with her delightful personality she will definitely make people laugh. She made me laugh, I just wish I had time to record her different voices.

THE ECCENTRIC

The guy was very positive immediately and I loved it. He calls himself eccentric because he likes so many very different things. He grew up in a ghetto in Texas and he learned to conform so he didn't get beat up. He told me, "They don't like the band Kiss there, at least they wouldn't let anyone know they do." In showing him my collection of bills I mentioned the Japanese Government bill from World War 11 for the people in the Philippines people to use when the Japanese invaded their country.  I was surprised at his response.

His grandfather escaped from that invasion. He told me that he was brilliant and invented or helped to invent several important things and was also a math professor here.  He was very excited to see the bill and I really enjoyed hearing about his grandfather's successful career.  It was definitely an interesting and fun ride.

IT ALL STARTED WITH POOP!

Relationships start in many ways, but beginning with cleaning up poop is about as unique as it gets.  He was staying next store to her house and she was working very long hours.  She needed someone to clean up from her three dogs and asked him if he'd be willing to do it. He paid her and then later asked if he wanted to rent an extra room she had and he did and so he paid her.

They became friends and then very good friends and they are now dating.  She told me, "We knew everything about each other, the good, the bad, and the ugly." She is a senior processor in the mortgage business and I asked her, "How long have you been in the business?" She said, "Since birth, I really like to be part of someone's adventure." They get along very well and he's still cleaning up the poop!

THE GENEROUS ACCOUNTANT

I always enjoy talking with accountants and they usually laugh when I tell them that some of my favorite conversations are with accountants.  My conversation with the woman from Buffalo, New York was another good conversation as I drove her to the airport. One minute from the airport, the ride changed. She left a small bag with her wallet in the room.  I pulled over immediately and she called someone staying with her and confirmed it was there.

She was upset and I calmed her down and I told her it was not problem for me.  It was 22 minutes back and another 22 minutes to the airport again which would leave her an hour before her plane left.  Our conversation was very different and I let her talk and offered some advice.  I told her not to be too hard on herself and I told her all the positive things that just happened, namely she discovered it before she was in the airport.  I shared some inspirational stories and we returned to the airport in plenty of time.

She hugged me when she got out and told me she would take care of me.  Since the extra stops were not on the app, we were unsure about what Uber would charge her and what they would pay me.  Uber charged her less than we both thought and Uber did pay me fairly. Still, she sent me $80 through Venmo.  It was too much and I tried to talk her out of it, but I did say I would accept a reasonable tip.  

Trying to argue numbers with a professional accountant is not a winnable argument. She told me, "I am very grateful for your generosity and ease to help. In a world with so much hate and bitterness, and in a time where I needed a shift in outlook (after a personally dark year for me), it is the least I could do."

She was the generous one.

THE JERSEY GIRLS

A special thank you to the two young women from Monmouth County in New Jersey.  They had a great time in my car and one of them wanted to give me something for my car.  She pulled out the bill and wrote me the above message, "Thank you so much George." She may have confused me with, "The Father of Our Country" since we look so much alike.  Thank you Martha!

A Robotic Dog?

Six years ago, when we first arrived in Myrtle Beach, we saw something on the beach I thought was ideal.  We stopped to talk to a woman who was pushing a stroller with her 14-year-old dog in it.  After we walked away, I told my wife that would be the kind of dog I would like.  We do have a dog now, Odin, who is 3 1/2 years old.  He is not robotic, although there are some things he does you could say are definitely robotic.

What if you had a robotic dog? No eating, no pooping, no going to the vet, and no howling when there are sirens.  You could leave a robotic dog whenever you want and for a long, long time.  There are people with robotic dogs and they are living in New York. I think staying might be a better word.

The State of New York's Office of Aging has been giving away robotic dogs to older people since 2018 and they are expanding their program.  To date they have given out over 35,000 robotic dogs to help with loneliness.  Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychologist said that the mortality rate for social disconnection is equal to having 15 cigarettes a day. She said, "Senior citizens should have companionship, good companionship."

Being from New Jersey, I always knew there were a lot of people in New York, I had no idea there were 35,000 robotic dogs.  I asked Mr. Google, "How many robotic dogs are in The United States?" I didn't get a direct answer but there are:

9 different kinds of military robot dogs

3 commercial kinds of robot dogs

33 consumer kinds of robot dogs

Are there robot cats too?

Strangers Saved Him

I have posted a number of times about people doing kind or generous things for complete strangers.  I like to do that as an Uber driver also, but I read this story and it is pretty special. 

This week a man possibly by the name of John, sent a thank you letter that was published in a few places.  He and his wife were at a boarding gate at Denver International Airport and his wife of 12 years passed out. Her heart stopped beating and her lungs stopped breathing.  He called out for someone to help.

Moments later two nurses and an ER doctor appeared since they were passing by. They did chest compressions and he gave mouth to mouth. A flight attendant got a defibrillator and hooked her up and soon after she started breathing.  Apparently, the early decompressions saved her life.

John's message was simple, "I don't know the names of my wife's lifesavers. I never had a chance to ask. I wouldn't recognize their faces. The whole episode was a blur.  I want to thank them.  They and all medical professional who instinctively rust to help when help in needed, knowing their skills can save lives."

He concluded by saying, "I'll probably never meet them; they'll probably never read this.  But lifesavers walk among us, and we all should be grateful."

I've made it a habit of thanking nurses and doctors who I drive in my car for all they did over the last few years during the pandemic.  Sometimes, they genuinely seem surprised-imagine if we all did that.

Sometimes we are put in the position to help a stranger and it's something we should do. A couple months ago when a car hit me head on, a guy who owns a painting shop came over immediately to see if I was okay.  Also, the car that hit me also hit another car and that woman asked if I was okay. One of them handed me my phone which was on the floor so I could call my wife. They weren't a lifesaver, but they helped me at a very difficult moment-they were there.

My Most Memorable Rider Comments from June

He: "I've been married four years.  I met my wife on September 26th and we married on October 5th." (10 days later) We knew we were right for each other. She was perfect." 

She told me that her ex-husband sold her dog. She: "His name was Thor." Me: "Your ex-husband's name was Thor?" She: "No, his name was, "Piece of s _ _ _." (Cheated on her)

She told me, "When I saw you had a transit van, I wondered if you had a stripper pole." 

Sitting in front of a very nice house for a few minutes, my passenger walked down the driveway and said, "Do you have my coffee?" When I said I was here to drive someone, he added, "You were supposed to go to the Sheraton and bring the coffee to me."

After telling me several horrendous stories about the difficult month he and his wife had, I said, "I think I may need a shower after I drop you off. I should drop you off soon." He: "A lightning bolt could strike you at any time."

Driving two Jamaican women to the back of a hotel, suddenly one yelled out, "Blow the vehicle, blow the vehicle!" She wanted me to blow the horn to get a car's attention.

Playing golf with a guy who plays once a year and his son, my rider said, "It was so awful. I could have shot him. He's worth $3 million and he had no tees or balls."

"My uncle only wore shoes twice-for his wedding and his funeral."

Woman from Arizona, "The heat in Arizona is like having a hair dryer blowing on your face."

"My wife has an unusual pet, a chameleon. It has reptile dysfunction."

She: "My boyfriend started drowning in the ocean and I saved him yesterday."

I asked him, "What kind of work do you do?" He said, "I'm just a doctor and I can't wait to stop."

She works for a HOA and said, "A guy came in upset that he was fined. He was away for a long time and his grass wasn't cut. He said to me, ' How come my neighbor didn't cut it?" Then he asked, "Why didn't you cut it?"

She: "My dad is very good friends with Mike Tomlin, the Steeler's head coach. He sent my dad a real Super Bowl ring."

From Pennsylvania, he told me how he deals with his HOA, "I don't ask for permission, I ask for forgiveness."

He looked 17, but was 29 years old.  I said, "You have Dick Clark genes." He said he had, "Vampire genes."

She: "My name is Wysteria, but it was supposed to be Marie.  My mom was on heavy drugs when she was giving birth and she was looking at a pillow case when she came up with the name."

The young mother had an almost two year old son with her.  She: "When he was one, my sister and I used to scare him with a mannequin." (He was not afraid of my mannequin)

Server in an upscale restaurant, "I was asked, 'Does your burger have meat on it?"

"My wife and mother-in-law both work at the same school I do.  I'm the assistant principal so I'm their boss."

Me: "Why did you move to South Carolina?" She: "It was spontaneous, our house was being shot up in Chicago."

My first rider to ask, "Do you have any scotch tape?" Another girl asked her, "Are you taping your dress or your knees together?" Another comment was, "She's closed for business."

Ricky was a nice guy and he runs bars in Charleston.  He said, "Tell people that you met me, because I'm a legend here."

"Is the town of Charleston haunted?"                     

She: "I had a pretty new female driver and her son was in the front seating eating breakfast and he kept looking back at me.  She was swerving and yelling on the phone that her husband had cheated on her. I just wanted to get out of the car."

MORE RIDER COMMENTS

He: "I have 1,200 cousins in this area and our family reunion takes a whole week."

He: "When I was a teenager I went with my mom to New York.  I told her I wanted to go to Mickey Mantle's steak place. I saw him sitting at the bar and I went over and asked him for an autograph.  He took a picture off the wall and signed it for me and I still have it."

She: "I named my son, "Unique" after a gangster in my favorite TV show." Me: "Can I be there when you explain that to him when he's older?"

From Kenya she said, "The thing I like most about my country is their are no extreme temperatures. It's always 50-80 degrees."

Server: "There are a lot of rich, prissy, mean people where I work."

Manager of a barbecue place, "Everyone has their own shit here, it's important to smile and say something nice."

He: "My dad Michael Moorer, was a four-time boxing champion who beat Evander Holyfield and lost to George Foreman."

He works at Hardees and told me, "The busiest time at Hardees is breakfast. They have a great breakfast."

He: "I was so drunk once that when a cop pulled me over I gave him my debit card."

"When my sister was visiting the south for the first time we were in a Publix and the guy started pushing our cart out the door and she yelled for him to stop.  She thought he was stealing our cart."

I asked the couple married 16 years, "How did you meet?" He said, "We have the same aunt and uncle, but on different sides of the family. My cousin is her half cousin and she's her best friend." 

From Texas she said, "My son won a raffle for a hotel and airline tickets to come here to Myrtle Beach."

Her mom named her "Beaches", because she loved the beach and Beaches was raised in Florida."

He has six Turo cars he rents out of the Charleston Airport and he said, "There are thousands of them available there."

She: "I got to see The Beatles in person at The Forest Hills Stadium in Queens. My friend's father got us tickets and he drove us and picked us up."(Tickets were as high as $6.50

She: "When my son was two he wanted to be a landscaper."

After showing the picture of the four professional cornhole players, two cheerleaders said, "We're famous cheerleaders."

The three guys from China were excited to see my Chinese bill and told me how it pronounce thank you in Chinese: "Xiexie sound like she she."

Due to his wife's leg injury, he's had to give his wife a bath.  He: "It's not as sexy as it used to be."

He: "I come from a place where everything in the water wants to kill you." (Florida)

She: "At our timeshare presentations we get one out of five people to buy something."

She: "I have drivers tell me they hate coming to Mt. Pleasant, hate the people and hate having to go to the islands." (It's my favorite place to drive)

I asked, "Have you ever gotten a gift from an Uber driver?" He said, "Yes, a pillow. It was in the car and I was using it because my back hurt and the driver said I could have it."

The auto mechanic of 35 years is now retired and said, "I fixed my Uber's car in five minutes this morning by getting the brake switch light to shut off."

She: "I miss nothing about living in New Jersey."

"Sometimes in the South I get my New York guard up-what do they want from me?"

She: "I'm a blood mobile bus driver."

He: "I'm a TLL, a Thought Leader Liaison, I educate doctors about medical problems by representing my company."

Young male server: "I like to see people smiling and having a good time. The money doesn't mean as much to me."

She: "I named my daughter a Japanese word that means seven seas.  When I was pregnant with her, the only thing that calmed me down was sitting in a shower each day for twenty minutes."

"My great aunt cooked for the Wrigley's." (Wealthy owners of  The Chicago Cubs.)

She: "I'm a bus coordinator for a county in New York with 600 buses."

He: "I'm a waiter in fine dining."

The traveling nurse told me, "I worked for 11 months in the Carribbean and I'm leaving in a couple month to work in Hawaii for three months. I'm going to be there December 7th to see the events at Pearl Harbor that day."

She: "My name "Ng" is pronounced, "Nuh."

The European dancer said, "I love dancing and I love that I can do it anywhere in the world."

He: "The Cowboys won't win until Jerry Jones dies."

He: "I write for a college football website and I'm a sports announcer too."

The husband said about he and his kids, "We have fun when we are away from mom, she's more serious."

COMMENTS ABOUT MY MANNEQUIN LILY

She: "I had a mannequin head from cosmetology school. I took it to all my parties in college and it was a big hit. People shaved her head and put cosmetics on her."

She: "You should write a book from how Lily sees this."

"Can I touch it?"

She: "I think it's kind of goofy."

She: "Do you live with this?"

"Your wife doesn't mind this?"

She: I have many mannequins at cosmetology school, but one of them gives me a hard time." (the hair)

She: "We bought a mannequin for our daughter because she liked to do hair. Now, the mannequin is on a stick in front of the window."

COMMENTS ABOUT ME AND MY CAR: (How can this be so rewarding? I gave 343 rides this month and this is what my terrific passengers said.)

He: "This ride was the best part of the end of our vacation."

He: "If I could give you 10 stars I'd give you 12. This has been the best Uber ride of my life."

She: "You're not a normal Uber driver, you're interesting."

He: "You've been changing lives by what you do in your car."

He: "Keep doing what you're doing, you're such a joy."

"Thank you for all your help and wise words."

The woman from Kenya said, "Awesome trip, thank you my darling."

"I feel very blessed to have met you today."

I asked, "Have you ever gotten a gift from an Uber driver?"  He said,"You gave us the gift of information."

The recent college graduate said, "Thank you for talking to me, you really made my day."

The female restauranter said about the ride, "I'm pretty impressed."

"Thanks for making our ride delightful."

"This ride made my day."

Looking at all the money, she said, "You're a rich man."

"You're wonderful, best Uber ride ever."

"I enjoyed your museum very much."

"This was the most interesting Uber ride ever."

"I can tell you're a good fella."

"This was such a pleasure."

"This is so interesting."

"What an Uber!"

"This is a great collection."

"This is fantastic."

Getting out of the car, the young man said, "May your collection ever grow."

"This was an experience."

"I love your passion!"

"This was really a good ride, thank you so much."

As I told her the story of how I got 54 bills from different countries, she kept saying, "Get out of here!" and "No way!"

"I love the museum."

"I'm glad I decided to get an Uber today."

"We appreciate the conversation."

"Good luck on your journey."

"I like your car."

"You're a nice guy."

"I hope I get you again soon."

"This is very unique."

"That was a very nice ride."

"This is beautiful, it's super unique."

"That's crazy."

"One of the best rides I've ever had, I enjoyed it very much."

"Far out!"

"I really enjoyed the ride."

"I really like you."

"This was a great ride."

He lives in Mexico and said, "Your Mexican bill is fake."

He wanted to give me something for my car, so the manager of bars gave me very large bottle opener.

JUNE'S MOST MEMORABLE RIDERS

 

A STINGRAY COULD NOT STOP HER

One of my last rides of the month turned out to be one of the most inspirational rides in my six years of driving. I was driving two young women from a bachelorette weekend in Charleston. One woman from New York, had a crutch and a very challenging weekend experience.

Walking in the ocean she stepped on a stingray and it stung her in the calf and went right through her.  It was extremely painful, but she was able to get good medical attention.  Apparently, in the ocean you're not supposed to walk, but instead you should "shuffle" your feet because it warns the stingrays and they stay away from you.  Also, you need to put hot water on the wound which draws the venom out, if you ever need that info.

She was walking with a crutch and although I didn't get a good look at it, she may have had some kind of boot on her leg. She needs to have it looked at when she gets home, but she was in very good spirits. She enjoyed what she could on her trip and was looking forward to heading home.  I'm sure she'll be back to Charleston one day to enjoy more of the town.

She is in the computer field, but it's more important who she is.  On the ride to the airport, she was smiling and laughing and her attitude was very positive.  My impression was that this was just a bump in the road and she was moving past it.  Years ago, I drove a young woman who had just had her car totaled and she lost two teeth.  She was an orphan and was working at four different jobs and she made sure that I knew who she was. She said, "I believe in being the victor, not the victim."

I have no doubt that this is one tough New Yorker who has a very bright future ahead of her. With her personality and attitude, that stingray was no match for a "victor." I'm sending my best wishes for a speedy recovery.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

It was a short, but remarkable ride. He told he has been married four years and he and his wife have had an awful May.  He listed a number of things that had happened and one that was so awful I said, "I may have to take a shower after this ride is over. I need to drop you off soon." He replied, "A lightning bolt could strike you at any time."

But the most shocking thing he said was this, "We met in a bar on September 25th and got married on October 5th. We knew we were right for each other, she was perfect." How does it happen a couple in 2024 can get married ten days after they meet in a bar? His wife badly turned her ankle in May and she's unable to take a shower, so he's been giving her a sponge bath sitting on a shower stool. The funny guy said, "It's not as sexy as it used to be." I told him his luck will change this month. 

THE BOXING CHAMPION'S SON

I was having a very nice conversation with an accounting recruiter and then he mentioned that his dad (pictured above), was a four time boxing champion between 1988-2008. His professional record was 52-4, beating Evander Holyfield and losing to George Foreman.  His son told me that his dad, Michael Moorer, "Had his worst fight against Foreman and it still bothers him."  His dad lives in Florida and has opened a gym with Evander Holyfield.

 A STEWARDESS FROM SOUTH AFRICA

It's only the second time I have driven someone from South Africa, and the young woman was very excited to see the South African bill with Nelson Mandela on it in my car. She was delightful to drive and had one of the biggest laughs when I told her what the retired British race car driver said to me a few years ago, "Our wives have something very much in common, they have abominably poor taste in men." Her laugh was so loud she startled me.

After high school she took a month or so course in being a stewardess on a yacht and she really enjoys what she's doing.  She has visited a number of countries in her short career and is saving a good amount of money also.  There's less than ten people usually on the yacht and they are good people to work with. I loved her accent and we ended the ride with her saying, "This was an awesome trip, thank you my darling." I may tell some future riders about her farewell and try to copy her beautiful accent!

NOT JUST A DOCTOR

He was easily one of the most impressive riders of the year and I am so glad I got to meet him.  I drove 21 minutes to pick him up which is much longer than most people I pick up.  From North Carolina, I asked him what he did for a living and he replied, "I'm just a doctor and I can't wait to stop."  I didn't realize until later that he may have gotten this line from the television show, "Star Trek."  The doctor,  Leonard McCoy, used to say to Captain Kirk, "I'm just a country doctor, Jim."  This doctor was more like "Dr. Marcus Welby, MD, " a television show from the eighties.

Outgoing, relaxed, funny, and easy going, this is the kind of doctor everyone would want.  He's been upset at how the medical profession has been ruined by corporations.  He explained it is much harder for a doctor these days to have their own practice and everything about the profession has been corporatized. He explained that they are measuring things that should not be measured. He's looking to retire as an internist over the next few years.

ALMOST KISSING COUSINS

It took most of the day, but I knew this would be the best ride of the day almost immediately.  The couple had been married 16 years and they were with a friend heading to The Country Music Festival.  The wife said to me, "When I saw you had a Transit van, I wondered if there was a stripper pole." I can't explain where that came from, but she is the only one to ever bring that subject up.

I asked them how they met and it's a good thing we had thirty minutes left in the ride. They told me they knew each other all their life since they had the same aunt and uncle, but on the other side of the family. Her best friend is her cousin or half cousin. The cousin is also a cousin or half cousin of her husband. I was driving and I'm not 100% sure which it was.

Their relationship changed when the cousin and the wife were going to camp out in a yard, but heavy winds blew the tent away.  She did mention that he gave them a hay ride and she was not dressed properly in a mini-skirt. (Not for camping either) He told them they could stay over, but his place had no electricity, so he lit candles. She thought he was being romantic.  He also had to explain how they needed a bucket of water to use the bathroom, which probably did not sound romantic at all.

The cousin did not want to stay in a separate room, so the three of them went to sleep in the same bed.  Since the cousin was on one side giggling, the new relationship did not go very far that night, but it was quite a story.

LEARNING CHINESE

The three men from China were excited to see the Chinese bill I have hanging in my car. They were docked in Charleston and had come in on a freighter. The word for thank you is spelled, "Xiexide." They taught me that it's pronounced, "She she." As they got out I said, "She she, " and they laughed. It was a short ride and I made the most of it.  When do you ever get to talk to three men on a slow boat to China?