What You see- An Uber trip

Here’s another story from the half deaf woman-hold your horses!
I’ve been trying to find time to write this one.

I’ve had to rely on Uber for the last three months…and let me tell you that it’s a whole another ball game when you’re a visual/tactile person.

Every time I book a ride, this little message from Uber pops up
“Check your ride- make sure the person matches the picture and make sure the license plate and car match the description”

Piece of cake, right?

Except people hardly ever look like the pictures they post- all these filters kinda make people into something they ain’t.

I had s picture of a clean shaven, bald guy and the guy that shows is had a headful of gray curls and a full beard.

Oh, looks like he’s one of those lucky guys that the hair growth serum worked for!

I’ve had to rely on Uber for the last three months…and let me tell you that it’s a whole another ball game when you’re a visual/tactile person.

Every time I book a ride, this little message from Uber pops up
“Check your ride- make sure the person matches the picture and make sure the license plate and car match the description”

Piece of cake, right?

Except people hardly ever look like the pictures they post- all these filters kinda make people into something they ain’t.

I had s picture of a clean shaven, bald guy and the guy that shows is had a headfuln of gray curls and a full beard.

Guess that hair growth serum worked!

There’s been times when I think my driver must be prepping for a physique competition only to be greeted by a skinny guy with s sheepish grin.

And the women!?!?!

Lord, have mercy.. Some of them must be Victoria’s Secret models on the side and drive around looking like they just pulled an all nighter, cleaning the garage.

There have been pictures with long hair, arched eyebrows, red, pouty lips and the driver winds up having short hair, invisible brows and lips that are almost impossible to read because there’s no definition or color.

So I look for other signs to make sure I’m comfortable and safe.., after all, riding with strangers is kinda taking a leap of faith.

There’s this little space on the app –
“Any ride details?”

So I reckon it’s my chance to let the driver know a little about what to expect.

“I’ve got a knee injury so I’m not very graceful and I’m a little slow. I’ll like to ride up front if that’s okay with you.”

And you know what?

I make sure I’m at the curb when the car pulls up and i make sure that I look like my profile picture.

What you see IS what you get!

Most drivers jump out of their cars, open the front door for me and grab my heavy backpack for me.

Then I put the seatbelt on, turn towards them and smile as I say,

“Thank you for letting me ride up front with you. I’m half deaf and i read lips so I need to sit beside you to communicate.”

“Oh, that’s why?!”

It is the real reason why I prefer to ride up front. I’m really good at lip reading but I still haven’t mastered reading the back of anyone’s head.

When a driver doesn’t make the front seat available, i slide into the back and I’m silent.

I don’t try to engage in small talk because I can’t understand the driver and it’s only awkward and frustrating.

I’ll give simple directions as we get closer to my destination, like
“Pull into the fence with the SJTPT sign”
“Turn left between the white picket fences.”
Or “It’s the last house on the corner with the blue door.”

I get it- I’m a stranger to the driver,too. They don’t know what to expect everytime they open up their car to take somebody where they want to go.

It can’t be easy.

That’s why I decided when I found out that I had to start using Uber, to treat every driver with kindness and respect mingled with gratitude.

Nobody has to pick me up.. each one of the drivers chooses to come get me…and I’ve even had some cancel on me- probably because they got a further, better paying ride.

There’s been some drivers that I’ve felt an instant rapport with, and one guy started me in the back then stopped about ten feet down.. and said,” Hey, i changed my mind, get up front!”

I’ve had guys take my hand and walk me across the rocky path. I even had one guy try to pick me up after my knee buckled underneath me and I almost fell.

I’ve linked hands with a man from Sudan, hads woman from Nigerias pray for me in the parking lot of Legends Fit and i even had a woman gasp with excitement and start signing away because I was her first rider that knew her first language. She’s a CODA- child of deaf adult and she was tickled pink to be able to “visit” with me.

I am a toucher- after all, I’m a Native Texan, Southern charmer with the added blessing of being half deaf and touch is as natural as breathing.

I know it makes some people and some drivers uncomfortable, especially in this post a Covid age but that’s just how I am.

I can read the vibes and body language of people and I don’t step on any toes- on purpose, anyways…But there’s times when I spin the wheel and get lucky and get scooped up by a driver that has great lips and looks like the profile picture that is posted.

And then I get one of rides of my life, looking like I do in real life!

deaftherapist #writingmyheartout #jeannasoul #myownwords