I failed retirement. After 10 months of “freedom” I was ready to jump off my balcony. Two different financial advisors had shared with us that we need to generate $xxx dollars to fund our travel addiction. MK was reading the AARP magazine and said “I think I will try driving for Uber”. I said “What’s Uber”. “You remember – last summer in Columbus, Ohio, Amy and Christian used it. People sign up to use their own car to drive people around”. I thought to myself ‘this will last about a week’. I was wrong, after a bit she was off and rolling. Again I thought ‘maybe she is on to something’. I went to Google and looked it up. Lyft also came up. The Lyft “become a driver” promo sold me. “Be yourself. Have Fun. Invite people to sit in the front seat. Be your own boss”. Secondly, the driver reviews were overwhelming pro Lyft. I signed up.
I gave my first ride four years ago this week. My retirement depression fog began to Lyft. Within a couple of weeks I was rolling. I currently have a
⭐ 5.00 rating and 5,384 rides. I have put over 90,000 Lyft miles on my red car .🚗Thanks to some encouragement from my friend Jim S. and
daughter Amy and son Mateo, I started this blog. As I sit in a parking lot writing this on a beautiful October Saturday, I have already given five rides and made $44.04. In no clear order these are some of the things I have learned driving complete strangers:
* most people are very grateful and say “thanks for the ride” * Scooters are Everywhere… no one saw it coming
* Blue collar folks are the best tippers
* Most riders have moved here in the last three years
* The rare “native” is amazed to have a driver with the same pedigree * Nothing is cruder than four drunk girls on a bachelorette party
* The entire Metro area is UNDER CONSTRUCTION
* You never know when a person’s story will move you to the depths * Lyft is a great company which is constantly trying to do better
* Airport rides are a reward you can’t count on
* I gave William my longest Lyft ride ever this week—75 miles
* Clean restrooms are really appreciated
* Take time to take a walk
* I love immigrants … they have great stories
* At least I am keeping these drunk idiots off the road
* Police rea🚔lly appreciate ride share
* Today’s 1948 house will be tomorrow’s four-unit condo
* I do this because I love to do it and need to for my own mental health
* 98% of people are really decent… and the jerks come in all shapes,
sizes, colors, genders and from the East Coast.
* People are blown away when I am asked “are you a native”, and my
answer is “my great-grandparents moved here in 1873 from Kentucky. Everyone comes from somewhere else.”
I want to thank all my readers for your encouragement. You are more than kind.
Onward and Upward, Mark
Great story! But not complete! You do Lyfting but you also do lifting! Thanks much for lifting my spirits when I was recuperating in the nursing home! It really helped to have someone out there responding to my insatiable desire to play Scrabble! Thanks!
Janice Sent from my iPhone
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I don’t always get to read your blog, but I love the stories I do read. Your riders are blessed!
Blessings,
Linda
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I’m glad you started another ministry in doing your blog. It’s a connecting experience to be moved to the depths by the people you encounter, and to let us readers in on the profound stories. Thank you!
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Thanks so very much. I have been blessed by something I never saw coming.
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Happy anniversary…and your observations were spot on! 😇Especially the East Coasters and that fact that the entire metro area is a construction zone.
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Thanks… that means a lot coming from a PRO!!!
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Just another life observer. Our beloved city has devolved into a deep chasm of a narcissistic cone zone. Hope you are well otherwise.
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Doing great. I could do a list 2 and list 3.
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Us long time residents probably could have quite the list(s)!
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