Umans of Uber

Uber coincidences happen all the time. Once I picked up two passengers from Minnesota on the same day. Last week I had two umans who grew up in the same New Jersey town on consecutive days. I don’t believe this means anything, but it’s weird how often it happens. My last ride on Sunday and my… Continue reading Two to Tango

The first thing anyone would notice about Carlos and Brianna is their looks. Brianna had wavy blonde hair and big beautiful eyes. Carlos was athletically thin and tall, with thick brown hair. She wore a floral sundress. He wore a checked button-down and khaki shorts. They had that preppy fraternity look familiar to us University of Virginia alums. If you saw them… Continue reading Invisible Burdens

Okay, this isn’t my Uber story. It was told to me recently by a passenger. She was in an Uber in the United Kingdom and asked her driver if he’d had any exciting rides. He told her that he had recently stopped for a pickup on a busy city street when three young men in hoodies… Continue reading Uber Getaway

I was parked just outside of Keagan’s Irish Pub, looking out the driver’s side window, when Kara sneaked up on the passenger side. I jumped a bit as she threw open the front-seat door and practically shouted, “I hate that one-way street! I did that going to work one day and it made me late, and I was… Continue reading Love Conquers All

Driving an Uber in Hampton Roads means driving lots of servicemen and women. It’s an honor to do that, but I don’t want my blog posts to get predictable–always talking about the military. Last night, however, I drove a different kind of soldier and had to share it. They were my second trip from the Zac… Continue reading An Unusual Call to Serve

I drove two young men on consecutive days last week. I picked up Dan on the North End, just blocks from where I had dropped off Kenny the night before. They were both slightly built and pale, with clean-cut, short-cropped hair. If you told me they were brothers, I wouldn’t have doubted it. But they… Continue reading Alter Egos

“Can we stop at Chanello’s and pick up a pizza on the way home?” Reed hadn’t even shut the car door before he asked. He must have been hungry. “Did you order it already?” I asked. I don’t mind making a quick stop, but I lose money if I have to wait for long. “Yeah.… Continue reading Love and Marriage

A passenger once asked me if I had ever driven any celebrities. I laughed a little. What celebrities hang out in Virginia Beach? And even if they did, why would they ride in an Uber?

But tonight I drove my first celebrity: boxing legend, Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker.

Uber driving is often a cross-cultural experience. I make frequent trips to and from a shoddy parking lot near Military Circle where the China bus arrives and departs every night. The China bus is a $20 ride to and from New York City. A few nights ago I picked up an entire Chinese family there. A… Continue reading The World in My Uber

Concerts at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater are usually great for Uber drivers. Prices tend to surge as the shows let out and big crowds of people who have had too many twelve-dollar beers are looking for rides home. Recently, the Dixie Chicks were in town on a pleasantly warm summer night. It was about an hour before… Continue reading Battling Sadness