It’s been awhile but I want to share this with y’all.

I’ve been riding with strangers almost every day for over a year.

These people amaze me with their stories and their kindness so I’m going to share a bit.

There was Chik, that held my hand Tuesday morning as tears rolled down my face as I shared my heartbreaking news that my optic nerve hadn’t been healing.

He had never met me before I booked a ride with him but he showed great compassion.
When we pulled up to my studio, he parked his car, opened my door and held out his hand.
I linked my fingers into his, and we walked all the way to the door and then we hugged.

I stepped inside and felt a rush of gratitude just overcome me.

I’ve heard so much about the dangers of Uber, of getting in cars with strangers but, my experiences have been incredibly wonderful for the most part.

There’s the guy that bought me home last night…he works full time and drives Uber in the evening so he can help his mom pay her bills like electricity, water and groceries because social security isn’t enough.

There’s the woman with the great laugh that loves to sky dive that I enjoyed talking with the other evening as we drove the “ fast” way instead of the scenic Uber way.

Oh, and the guy that drives mornings after he drops his special needs son for therapy…. He works a night shift warehouse job, then drives Uber to cover what insurance doesn’t.

I have a guy that’s picked me up many times- he’s gracious and protective and carries my heavy bags to my room but even more, he prays for me and encourages me and every time I see his name pop up as my driver, I breathe a sigh of relief.

I’ve been picked up by people working on their PhD, by those that work from home and have told me that I’m the only “real” interaction they have all day, and by retired men and women trying to make ends meet.

There’s been only 6 drivers out of over 300 rides, that I wouldn’t ride with again..

I’ll tell you why,too.

I’m hard of hearing and I read lips to understand so I always send a text saying that I’ll like to ride up front if it’s okay with them.

99.9 percent of the time I’m sitting up front, talking up a storm and sharing faith stories and directions but every now and then, I have to get in back and when I do, I put on AVA – the audio visibility accessibility app because I sure can’t read lips from the back seat.

I’m good, but I’m not that good!

One driver forgot I was in the car and while she was distracted and talking on her phone, she drove miles out of the way.

Another driver’s car rattled and shook all the way down 205 with the check engine light signaling, and one guy drove off so fast as I was getting up the curb that I almost lost balance and fell into the street.

But there’s the super polite young man on the spectrum dressed in a polo with his logo that buckled my seat belt and placed my bags just so.
He drove me home then turned and asked me to let him unlock my belt and open my door.
He offered an arm and walked me to my door then with an anxious look in his eyes, he asked me if I could wait until he got back into his car before opening my door.

I could tell that hearing three large dogs barking unsettled him and I assured him that I never open the door until my drivers are inside their cars.

Almost every man that’s walked me to my door has remarked about my dogs.

When you’re practically dead, dogs are a really big deal.., mine alert me, protect me, comfort me and take up half my bed!

George, one of the drivers I’ve had the pleasure of riding with, said this to me,” Be grateful you’re still here and be grateful for everything you can still see.”

Oh, sweet Jesus, I am so grateful for all the kindness, for all the gentlemen that open doors and hold my hands, for all the women that make me laugh and that share a glimpse of their soul with me.

I’m so grateful that I have selective vision like I have selective hearing- I only see the good just like I only hear the good.

I look for beauty and my mind is blown, I look for mercy and it overflows, I look for help and I get it in the most unexpected places, I look for opportunities and I find them.

I may be riding with Uber but these aren’t exactly strangers, these are people I was meant to meet.

writingmyheartout #wordsforyoursoul #jeannasoul #uberstories #myownwords