Being the morning after girl comes with great responsibility and discretion. The responsibility is the same with any passenger, their safety is in your hands when you're the one behind the wheel. Although I also consider having bottled water on hand a part of my responsibility for helping to cure hangovers. The discretion, well that's a bit different.
My first experience being the morning after girl was to take "where's my truck Kyle" to his vehicle. This is something I do about once a month. And for his name, well here's the story. I picked him up the first time and he said "I need to go find my truck."
"Great," I responded happily, "Where did you leave it?"
"Well . . . . I don't know the street name . . . if you'll drive down Martin and Station, there's a street in that area, my buddy lives there and I think that's where my truck is."
He was right, and I made a mental note of the actual street name for next time.
Most often he's left his truck in the bar district. On the morning after, depending on how early it is, the bar district has a lot of cars just sitting there despite the fact that every establishment is closed. I find that amusing. And it's also a good sign that people who had a few didn't drive home. It's a safer city that way.
Then there's people like Art. Art reminds me of Mr Miyagi (Karate Kid) or more recently Ty from Survivor. He's a very small Asian guy and for the longest time I thought he might be an ornate gardener. I first met him the morning after a drunkfest in a nearby neighborhood. He was, unfortunately, still very drunk and talked non stop all the way home - the complete opposite side of town. It's a nice fare :) I found out he's actually in management. Who would have guessed?
The second time I saw Art he was more hungover. He got in my car and simply said, "I'm glad it's you, you know where I live right?" Of course, it was in the app but I replied yes and he slept the entire way even though the sun was directly in his eyes (he did try to put his cap down but it was little help with the sunrise).
There are also the "walks of shame" pick ups. One very early morning in particular I picked up Susan. She wasn't so much hungover as embarrassed. Apparently she had been feeling really lonely since her divorce over a year before and called up a male friend. "I just wanted to have someone to cuddle with," she said without being prompted. I make it a practice NOT to ask about the situation. But Susan needed to talk and I learned all about how tough things were for her without having a grown up to lean on. Who knew my Psych degree would come in handy driving Uber. Sometimes I'm like the bartender, just listen, nod and hope to say something helpful. It's situations like this that make me keep tissues in my car. And sometimes after they leave I need a tissue myself.
But everything is safe in my Uber. Even the street names are changed to protect the identity of my pax.
Some walks of shame are really shameful and I have to bite my tongue not to comment. Like Jennifer who almost fell down the front steps of a house still drunk at 9am. And I got the impression from the stuff she was carrying (without a purse, I think she should have just shoved it all in her boots if she wasn't going to wear them) that she was very out of place in the neighborhood. Like maybe she wasn't the woman of the house, but then it wasn't my place to ask or judge. I am just the driver, the rescue party.
If you're in my town and find yourself in need of a ride the morning after - you might just get me. I'm one of the few drivers not sleeping it off from driving the bar scene the night before. And if you do find yourself in my car, I've got cold water to help that hangover. And mints for your breathe and tissues in case you want to cry.
Today is Sunday, another day of morning-after errands. The basketball player who ended up across town from his place looking tired, the barmaid who was going to work to serve brunch, the airport pick up of a trainer working in town this week, the couple who came to town for a wedding who crashed with a friend and needed a ride back to their hotel (okay that's odd, why not just stay at your hotel?)- it's just another day for the driver who can't seem to sleep in.
Today is Sunday, another day of morning-after errands. The basketball player who ended up across town from his place looking tired, the barmaid who was going to work to serve brunch, the airport pick up of a trainer working in town this week, the couple who came to town for a wedding who crashed with a friend and needed a ride back to their hotel (okay that's odd, why not just stay at your hotel?)- it's just another day for the driver who can't seem to sleep in.
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