A couple of weeks ago, I started rideshare driving for both Lyft and Uber. It’s been a pretty fun experience so far. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about having strangers in the personal bubble of my car, but so far they’ve all been pretty great. Some are talkers, some are quiet. My first rider spent the first half hour of the ride productively knocking out business. Another rider was just returning home after a tough five days with her aging parents, one of whom has dementia, and she was over-peopled.
Three Alcoholics
Last week, I had three riders on two different days in various stages of alcoholism. I’m changing their names here.
First up was Christopher. Christopher is in his early sixties and shared that he’d knocked alcohol on his own. As we drove from the medical center to his home on the other side of town, he pointed out different bars and pubs that have good food, as well as places he used to drink. He told me his old drinking buddies still occasionally invite him to go out with them–“You can get a Coke,” they insist–but he said, “I didn’t much like them when I was drinking. Now that I’m sober, I really don’t like them.” He hasn’t gotten sober through any sort of 12-step program. I kinda wish he had a group; he vibed as a bit lonely.
Couple of days later I picked up a woman named Brittany at a local place that hosts AA meetings. When I picked her up, she was on the phone with her boyfriend’s young daughter talking about their costumes for the Halloween party they were all going to that evening. She has a lot to live sober for, and I think she’s going to make sobriety work for her.
Later that evening I picked up Jason. Between the ethyl alcohol in his cologne and pouring out of his pores, I was getting a bit of a contact buzz. His destination was the liquor store then back home. Jason shared that he’s got four kids. I dropped him back at his home with his fifth of his liquor of choice. He seemed like a good guy, and his kids deserve to have a dad who’s present and sober. I hope he’s able to get the help he needs to get and stay sober.
As I continue to rideshare, I’ll share more stories that trip across as tell-worthy.
