Normally I am the resident assclown and Mr. IDGAF but yesterday had a ride that got to me.
I finished my day stuff early afternoon and headed downtown to try to get some rain Surge. Get to my perch, set DF and all is well. In comes a $9.50 ping (allegedly on the way to my destination) and off I go.
Get to the pickup spot at 19th and L. I'm at the pin, 4 minutes and change goes by. Phone rings and it's her. I answer because Surge is dying down so I know next trip is not gonna be nearly as good. She makes it to the car. Cute girl in workout gear.
She gets in, I start trip and I see it's Falls Church. YES! Decent chance of extending, so should be decent payout.
She says "do you mind if I change the destination to the Wharf?"
In my mind I'm thinking "****ing-A I mind because in the time it'll take to creep from 19th and L to the Wharf I could've Longhauled your ass to Falls Church" but I said "OK no problem"* and helped her change it in the app.
I do my usual "how's your day going? Off work early?" and she lets out a sigh and starts crying. I'm used to this from the drunk crowd but not in broad daylight.
"I just came from the doctor. I have Stage 4 breast cancer."
Stunned silence on my part. I mean what the **** do you say to THAT?
After an eternity (probably like 3-5 seconds) I just said "I'm sorry" not knowing what else to say. I know women that have dealt with it and survived so I said so and tried being as upbeat as I could.
I usually have XM Channel 39 on (Hair Nation, yeah I like shitty 80's hair bands, sue me) but handed her the XM channel guide and said "pick whatever station you want". She picked some hip-hop station. (One of a VERY small handful of times I've ceded control of my radio.)
I tried being as upbeat as I could. She's mid 30's, smart, hot, (not trying to sound like JayJay here) with a 2 year old baby and was understandably devastated by the news.
I had a workout bag on the front seat. Had a freshly laundered towel in it. I gave it to her to help with the crying. Funny thing was when she got to her destination she tried handing it back. I told her "keep it, it has magical healing powers" because it would've been a little weird reminder. She smiled at that as she got out.
I still don't know what else I could have done in that situation.
Anyway back to the title of this, it put everything in perspective. I do piss and moan about Uber/Lyft but in reality I have little to (female canine) about.
I'll go back to assclownery, fart jokes, GIFs and wishing for Lyft's imminent failure but this one made me think.
*The main reason I didn't tell her GTFO when she said Wharf was because of the $500 IPO Bonus. I've seen a few things about people not getting the bonus for various things so I have put up with a little more than usual.
I finished my day stuff early afternoon and headed downtown to try to get some rain Surge. Get to my perch, set DF and all is well. In comes a $9.50 ping (allegedly on the way to my destination) and off I go.
Get to the pickup spot at 19th and L. I'm at the pin, 4 minutes and change goes by. Phone rings and it's her. I answer because Surge is dying down so I know next trip is not gonna be nearly as good. She makes it to the car. Cute girl in workout gear.
She gets in, I start trip and I see it's Falls Church. YES! Decent chance of extending, so should be decent payout.
She says "do you mind if I change the destination to the Wharf?"
In my mind I'm thinking "****ing-A I mind because in the time it'll take to creep from 19th and L to the Wharf I could've Longhauled your ass to Falls Church" but I said "OK no problem"* and helped her change it in the app.
I do my usual "how's your day going? Off work early?" and she lets out a sigh and starts crying. I'm used to this from the drunk crowd but not in broad daylight.
"I just came from the doctor. I have Stage 4 breast cancer."
Stunned silence on my part. I mean what the **** do you say to THAT?
After an eternity (probably like 3-5 seconds) I just said "I'm sorry" not knowing what else to say. I know women that have dealt with it and survived so I said so and tried being as upbeat as I could.
I usually have XM Channel 39 on (Hair Nation, yeah I like shitty 80's hair bands, sue me) but handed her the XM channel guide and said "pick whatever station you want". She picked some hip-hop station. (One of a VERY small handful of times I've ceded control of my radio.)
I tried being as upbeat as I could. She's mid 30's, smart, hot, (not trying to sound like JayJay here) with a 2 year old baby and was understandably devastated by the news.
I had a workout bag on the front seat. Had a freshly laundered towel in it. I gave it to her to help with the crying. Funny thing was when she got to her destination she tried handing it back. I told her "keep it, it has magical healing powers" because it would've been a little weird reminder. She smiled at that as she got out.
I still don't know what else I could have done in that situation.
Anyway back to the title of this, it put everything in perspective. I do piss and moan about Uber/Lyft but in reality I have little to (female canine) about.
I'll go back to assclownery, fart jokes, GIFs and wishing for Lyft's imminent failure but this one made me think.
*The main reason I didn't tell her GTFO when she said Wharf was because of the $500 IPO Bonus. I've seen a few things about people not getting the bonus for various things so I have put up with a little more than usual.
