This week’s road observations: I spy a man washing his car on a dark cold night. Which wasn’t as weird as seeing another man do yoga poses in the middle of the sidewalk later that (still dark, now rainy) night. ~~~~~~~~ #Lyft Line: The Quiet Meet Cute A girl with long black hair gets intoContinue reading “A quiet meet cute, the indignities of driving, and a giant vulture puts the kibosh on my Lyft driving days”
Tag Archives: Uber
The traffic-deterring giant slug, systemic honk reform and fruit-picking through the car window with a retired bat researcher
# Lyft Line # Kids Who Lyft A college-aged guy sits down in the front seat. After announcing that he has philosophy homework and a big research project to turn in, he gets to work. The app tells me our ride has two stops; next we will be picking up his niece at her elementary school.Continue reading “The traffic-deterring giant slug, systemic honk reform and fruit-picking through the car window with a retired bat researcher”
Corgi butts, passive-aggressive road gab, and a universe run by Siri
It’s a busy street in SOMA. So busy that when Tu—an Asian-American girl with shortly trimmed spiky hair, glasses, and a bouncy gait—lands buoyantly in the backseat of my car, a nearby vehicle is already honking at us to move. Tu holds in her hands a salmon-colored paper box of cupcakes. Once we escape theContinue reading “Corgi butts, passive-aggressive road gab, and a universe run by Siri”
Carnal Questing: Passengers Talk Joys and Difficulties of Modern Dating
Perhaps more straightforward in our parents’ generation, dating takes so many different forms today. For some it’s exhaustingly uncertain and painful, for others it’s a dopamine rush and world-expanding. Some daters are out there looking for The One, others are experimenting with ethical non-monogamy, and still others are searching for (or open to) something inContinue reading “Carnal Questing: Passengers Talk Joys and Difficulties of Modern Dating”
A Lyft Line sickly symphony, the chinchilla at TJ’s, and my friend joins me for an Uber Eats run
#Lyft Line I kept yawning. Another passenger kept sneezing. A second passenger hiccuped, filling the air with the smell of beer. The guy next to me coughed continually. We were an unwell Lyft bunch if there ever was one. I briefly felt pride at our joint contributions to the Symphony of Sickliness. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lyft Thought:Continue reading “A Lyft Line sickly symphony, the chinchilla at TJ’s, and my friend joins me for an Uber Eats run”
Pancake dates, fruity conversations, and fireworks galore: Lyft passengers on 4th of July
“Make sure you secure your pets tonight Folks, because some of them might get scared!” the woman on the radio encourages in a sweetly concerned tone of voice, as I drive the crowded July 4th streets of San Francisco. It’s cold out. One guy has his arms folded up inside his short-sleeved American flag shirt whenContinue reading “Pancake dates, fruity conversations, and fireworks galore: Lyft passengers on 4th of July”
Honks, Expletives, and Relentless Traffic: Dispatches from the Wild Wild Road
The driver lets out a sigh as he waits for pedestrians to cross the street at the speed of molasses. Seeing that one of them has a walker, he eases up on the steering wheel, which he’d been gripping tightly before. “No one to blame, Anger. Stay down,” he instructs his festering emotions. The walker scootsContinue reading “Honks, Expletives, and Relentless Traffic: Dispatches from the Wild Wild Road”
To Hug a Porcupine: A Marin County Passenger Talks Bojack Horseman and Intergenerational Trauma
*Names changed to protect confidentiality For many years, Marin County was home to Robin Williams. Its natural beauty and proximity to San Francisco have made it a popular dwelling for affluent retirees in search of sanctuary without having to forgo easy access to the culture and bustle of a city. When I look up fromContinue reading “To Hug a Porcupine: A Marin County Passenger Talks Bojack Horseman and Intergenerational Trauma”
Off the Beaten Path: Exploration of the Artsy & Historic in California & Nevada
Come explore artistic flair and interesting history in this latest batch of towns—all stumbled upon during my stint as a Lyft driver! Marysville, CA (Yuba County) Back in 1857, Marysville was a prospering city—one of the largest in California, due to its proximity to so many gold-mining sites. Though it was slated to become the “NewContinue reading “Off the Beaten Path: Exploration of the Artsy & Historic in California & Nevada”
Therapists, Policemen, and Zebra Fish Researchers: Passengers Talk Interesting Careers
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” —Confucius Passengers here either currently worked in engaging careers, were in the process of pursuing one, or added a fresh perspective to one that most people probably already know about. One worked as a traveling psychologist and conducted appointmentsContinue reading “Therapists, Policemen, and Zebra Fish Researchers: Passengers Talk Interesting Careers”
Lyft Tales 