MY FAVORITE RIDER COMMENTS IN MARCH

After losing her mom three years ago, she's been carrying her mom's ring in her purse and sometimes wearing it. "It has bad karma and I want you to take it and change the karma and give it to a Leo. My mom's birthday was August 15th and mine was August 17th." (Mine is August 19th. I gave the ring to a passenger's daughter who has been in the Army for three years)

I picked the 24-year-old guy up at the hospital and asked him how he was feeling. "Not that good. I died this morning. I was at a party and my friend gave me Adderall after drinking but it had fentanyl. I ordered an Uber and got in, but my driver saw I wasn't breathing and got me help. He saved my life. They hit me twice with Narcan, but the first one didn't work."

He: "My dad had me when he was 65 and my mom was 23. He had 22 kids, 67 grandchildren and 30-40 great grandchildren. I think the song, "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," was written about him."

She: "I was in a hurry in the bathroom and I went to brush my teeth and I grabbed the Preparation H and it was disgusting. There was no minty flavor. I probably needed a root canal after that."

She came to South Carolina about five years ago and was rooting for the South Carolina Gamecocks.. "I bought a hat that said, "Go C o c k s.  When I got home, no one knew what that meant, they thought I was a whore."

I asked, "What kind of work do you do?" She replied, " I'm a stripper on "Only Fans." My reply was, "How long have you been doing it?" She said, "Why do you want to get on it?"

Growing up in Los Angeles, he said, "I was a Bible-reading hooligan. One night we went to The Crystal Cathedral and I peed on a statue."

She actually asked once, "What kind of meat is on a veggie sub?"

"I'm a leap year baby, so I'm 25 today, (Feb. 28) but I've had only six birthdays."

After I talked with her a few minutes, the ninety-one year old former doctor said, "Now that we're intimate, I can tell you that Jake LaMotta was my oldest brother." (The boxer was a heavyweight champion and his nickname was "Raging Bull" which was a classic movie about his life)

He: "I don't want to go to a bar to watch sports-everyone talks and their idiots."

"We were in a Tesla that was driving itself and I asked the driver, "What do you do with your feet?" He answered, "I don't have any limbs."

Joking about his next driver, he said, "I'll either like him or I'll hate him and I'll hit him with a baseball bat." (really joking)

She: "When I was going to be a senior in high school I heard they were building a Senior Living Facility next to the school.  I told my parents I was going to move in with my friend."

She had chicken in her lunch bag and I asked, "Are you just chillin' today?" She said, "Yes, and I went to church in the morning." I said, "It's church, chillin', and chicken?" She replied, "That sums my day up right there."

I asked, "Have you ever gotten a gift from an Uber driver?" She said, "We had a driver in Charleston who offered us fortune cookies.  He had a bag on his dashboard and he had personal messages in the cookies. We didn't eat the cookies, we were kind of freaked out.

I asked, "What do you do for work?" She said, "I sell pictures of my feet." Joking, she then said, "I'm the funniest person you ever met."

I asked her where she was from and she said, "Ninety Six in South Carolina. We have two traffic lights and a Hardees."

German college student getting her MBA in South Carolina: "Everything in America is like a dream come true for me."

In charge of all media for the corporate offices of a major airline, he said, "I save them ten to fifteen million dollars a month."

She had a big smile on her face through most of the ride and I complimented her on it. She said, "I have to smile because I watch people die of cancer for a living."

In collections she said, "I like getting paid for being a bitch."

She said, "I've visited 89 countries in the world.  I was very impressed with Tibet."

I asked her, "Have I driven you before?" She said, "I don't know I don't usually pay attention to Ubers." 

Male bartender: "My worst days today are better than the best days of my life ten years ago. "I'm one of the most positive people on the planet. When you wake up in the morning, take the win."

She: "Once that first grandchild comes people will move to Kalamazoo to be there.  My mom put her house up for sale the day after my sister said she was expecting."

She was in Myrtle Beach to see a timeshare presentation and told me, "I went there by myself and they told me they didn't have enough reps. They gave me the $150 card and I didn't have to see the presentation. I don't think they thought I could afford it-I made $90,000 last year."

A group of former marines got together at the funeral of one their friends. "We put some commemorative marine coins in his coffin. He was the only one who didn't like Trump, so one guy threw a Trump 2024 coin in and said, 'If anything is going to wake him up, that is it."

I picked the older woman up at a hotel where she does laundry. She: "I'm legally blind and I have chronic heart failure. Sometimes it stops and I have to hit my chest to start it. I'm waiting for them to tell me I have six months to live." Why are you still working?" She: "I never filed for disability. I grew up learning that you should work, so I work."

A server for 18 years in Charleston, she told me about her amazing customer. "I had lost my 22-year-old son and returned to work. A regular customer who worked in a bank, noticed I wasn't myself and found out why.  He gave me a $200 tip.  Later that day he returned and handed me an envelope with $1,200 in it and said, 'Do something nice for yourself.' I bought a gravestone for my son."

MORE COMMENTS

I asked, "How did you two meet?" She: "A mutual friend re-kindled us."

Engaged she told me, "You're the first person I've told who spoke positive about marriage." (Married 41 years)

He: "Myrtle Beach is about eight years behind the northeast."

His name is Shep. "I've had drivers who didn't want to pick me up because of the famous guy named Shep who goes to get his drugs in an Uber."

The sales manager said, "I owe my career to soccer. I was playing on a company team and they offered me a job in sales."

My father-in-law worked for Major League Baseball and told me that they change the Yankee logo every year just slightly different shades of white due to copyright and legal issues."

After she was in the car, I asked her, "What are you up to today?" She replied, "I'm taking a ride with you right now."

I asked him how he and his wife met. "I was sitting in my car talking to random people and she just popped up on the screen."

He worked for five years in a very large convenience store. I said, "They should make you a manager." He replied, "Sadly they already have."

She: "This crazy weather confuses my knee."

He said after sneezing twice, "The most I've ever sneezed in a row was five times." He sneezed six times and I wrote him a note to show: "I heard him sneeze six straight times-Uber driver."

About to move to North Carolina near the water, he said, "We're naturals for the coastal area."

Talking about the good times the group of guys had last night, he said, "We lost some soldiers tonight."

She: "When I grew up I was terrified by dwarfs."

"When you find the right job you are eager and excited to do it."

"I was going to go into physical therapy, but I realized I don't like people.  I'm going to be a pilot."

Her family moved from Utah to South Carolina and she's still getting used to how friendly people are here: "I still think it's kind of weird."

He: "You don't have to have running shoes to run, but it helps."

Growing up in Myrtle Beach he said, "I learned how to say no and keep out of trouble."

High school math teacher in Washington D.C.: "I tell my students if you keep doing the work you'll get it."

"The woman is here from Iran for two months and she said, "Iran has the cheapest currency in the world."

There's a Ruth Chris that has a rent of $30,000 a month."

She: "My name Niko and it is polish and it means, "Victory for the people."

He was in his 50's when he ran with the bulls in Spain. "My sons did it two months earlier and my friend and I watched from a balcony before we did the run so we could see what happens.  There were 6 bulls that ran and 6 cows were there to calm the bulls down."

Physical therapist: "I knew I wanted to be in health care, because my mom was."

New to the country, she said, "You're first person I'm having a conversation with."

The young woman who is trying to figure out her career, told me, "I'm writing a historical romance novel."

She: "I used to think Donald Trump was such a jerk, but now I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do."

The young person majoring in elementary education said, "I understand kids better than adults."

He said about his friend sitting next to him, "She's of the greatest women I know."

COMMENTS ABOUT LILY, MY MANNEQUIN

I asked the Frenchwoman, "Do you have any mannequin stories?" She: "You mean for sex-toy parties?"

"Is she haunted?"

She: "A friend of my grandparents bought an old Victorian home in Massachusetts that Lizzie Bordon used to own.  Up in the bedroom window they have a mannequin head with a light shining on it so you can just see the shadow."

"He probably talks so much to the dummy, he forgets he has people in the back."

"She's all over the car."

"That is great."

"What's with the puppet?"

"She's awesome"

UNIQUE OCCUPATIONS

Kidney and liver surgeon

Vibration technician

Civil Engineer

Fishing Mate

Stripper on "Only Fans"

She: Navigates ships for the Navy

Geologist

Media Manager for major airline

Sells Racehorses

Teaches world class service in Guest Services

Manager of Port for oversees ships and spent ten years on a freighter

NEWEST COUNTRIES IN MY CAR:

Thank you to the civil engineer from Memphis who gave me this bill from Denmark-worth $14 here.

The future doctor gave me this bill from Kenya that he got when he worked 15 days in Nairobi and his group saw 12,000 people for medical assistance. He said, "It's a joy to share something like this."

COMMENTS ABOUT ME, MY CAR, AND THE RIDE

"I've never met someone like you."

"You're a breath of fresh air-you value people."

"You are epitome of a collector of a lot of good karma."

From Belgium: "This has to be the highlight of our trip so far."

Getting in the car, "Is there a parade?"

"I told my friend that I just met one of the most incredible people."

"You made my morning."

"That's awesome and I'm not lying."

"This was the best transportation experience I've ever had."

"You are so lovely."

"I wish there were more people like you in the world."

"This was very educational."

"I love that you love your job."

"This is the job that gives you the satisfaction and pleasure that you want working."

My sixth favorite rider, "The attitude adjuster," said, "You're a gift to this culture."

"A ride I'll never forget."

"This was a pleasure."

"What a great idea."

"I love your car."

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

"You have been the most fantastic driver, thank you sincerely."

She: "This was one of the two best Ubers I've been in." Me: "One of the two best?" She: Laughing she said, "It' the best one I've been in this year." 

"This has been a real treat."

"You made my day a lot better."

"I took pictures to show everyone."

"This was a great ride."

"This has been one of the best experiences I've ever had."

"I love your pictures."

"I don't think we could have gotten anyone better."

"I love your car."

"Museum was great."

"I enjoyed my Uber ride so much."

"Thank you for treating us so well."

"This has been a wonderful ride."

"That was an amazing ride."

"You made my day."

"This is sick."

"This is a beautiful car."

"I am very happy."

"It was so nice meeting you."

"Awesome"

"You were very entertaining."

"This is kind of crazy."

"It's so neat."

"This was the best Uber I've ever had."

"I've never seen anything like this."

"Thank you for all the stories."'

"Very impressive"

"I appreciate the concept."

MY FAVORITE RIDERS OF MARCH 2025 PART 2

                                                             

"TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST, BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO"

Robert Schuller was a very famous pastor out in California and he published the book in 1983.  I had to tell my rider about it, because her story was such an extraordinary one of someone being resilient. Over the last dozen years she's had a number of extremely difficult personal challenges, starting with her mom passing away from cancer when she was 18.  I was driving her and a friend to get her car that was impounded after she was arrested after refusing a breathalyzer test.  She had just been released from the hospital after surgery and she could not walk a straight line, so she was arrested.

She is in medical school working on being an oncologist to diagnosing and treating cancer.  I complimented her on her big smile and she said,  "I have to smile because I watch people dying from cancer for a living." I suggested to her that she should focus on all the good things she has going for her and not the bad luck or bad Karma she's been experiencing.  I said she was obviously bright and a people person and she was dedicated to doing something to help others.  She has a great future ahead of her and she was right when she said, "I'm resilient."  You can do it!

HE DIED THAT MORNING

I picked him up from a hospital around 10:30 am on a Sunday morning.  I asked him how he was feeling and he said, "Not that good, I died this morning." It was a short ride and it was the most shocking thing someone has said to me in my car and he was serious.

The 24-year-old is in sales and he was mentally trying to get through what happened to him only ten hours ago. "I was at a party and a friend gave me Adderall after drinking, but it had fentanyl. I ordered an Uber and got in, but my driver saw I wasn't breathing and got me help. He saved my life. They hit me twice with Narcan, but the first one didn't work."

I told him to get some rest and that he obviously was very fortunate and received a gift today and I wished him well. Congratulations to the Uber driver and the medical staff that was able to save his life.

25 YEARS OLD WITH  SIX BIRTHDAYS

It was 5 am on March 1, when I picked of four friends in their early twenties and they were trying to get home after a long night.  One of the girls told me that she was a "Leap Year Baby" and she just turned 25. Her actual birthday did not exist since there were only 28 days in the month. She celebrated on the 28th and now it was the first. She told me, "I've only had six birthdays my whole life, one was last year." She has a birthday every four years and she looked a lot older than 6.

SERVING KINDNESS

She has been a server for eighteen years and she was a delight.  I would love to have her serve me at any restaurant.  I could tell she was very good at what she does and she was smiling when she talked to me. She told me one of the most incredible stories I have heard in my car and it was after the worst moment in her life.

She lost her 22-year-old son who died at a party.  Here's her story: "I went back to work and the first day one of my regular customers could tell that there was something wrong and he asked one of my co-workers. He works in a bank and he tipped me $200.  Later that day he came back and gave me an envelope and said, 'Do something nice for yourself. The envelope had $1,200." It was an extraordinary gesture by her customer, but I really felt for her when she told me that she bought a gravestone for her son with the money.

WOULD YOU LIKE A FISHING MATE?

He loves to fish and for seven years he's been working as a fishing mate, doing work on boats and handling all the fishing activities. Working for himself he's worked for, "Wealthy, famous, and crazy people." He is currently working on an eight million dollar fishing boat. He also worked for country music singer, Alan Jackson, for a whole year. His favorite place to travel is the Caribbean islands.

SHE'S AS SHARP AS A...KNIFE?

The older woman slowly got in my car and I had no idea how much fun this ride would be.  I said to her, "What are you up to today?" She answered quickly, "I'm driving with you right now." She was actually going to get her hair done.  She told me she was a chiropractic doctor and she's retired.  I asked her how long ago she retired and she replied, "I'm ninety-one, you do the math." Originally from the Bronx, she was making me laugh, but she had that northeastern toughness. She loves to read and told me she reads a book a week.

After a few minutes she said, "Now that we're intimate I can tell you that my oldest brother was Jake LaMotta." He was a former heavyweight champion of the world and his nickname was "Raging Bull."  The movie, "Raging Bull", starring Robert DeNiro, was his life story and is recognized as one of the all-time great movies.  He had passed away a few years back and I asked her what he did after he retired. She told me he was a celebrity and helped open a lot of places and he sold a lot of memorabilia.  She really was a delight and could have passed for 71 years old.