There was no calming my heartbeat. Blood rushed through my body. My back and head hurt. I was scared.
It took me 3 weeks to set up Uber on my phone. I knew how to use Uber as a passenger. I did not know how to be a driver. The app is so simple that I was confused. I watched driver YouTube videos and tutorials, uploaded my car related documents, but understood little. I gathered that in order to learn, I must go do.
I told Hubby Saturday evening that I was off to try my best. We are in the 10 day financial crunch period of the month so this gal’s gotta make extra dough.
Seemed like there is not much trip action for drivers in Kentucky so I nervously headed toward Ohio to a sketch neighborhood that showed fares available on the map. Gotta rip the band-aid off, I told myself.
Suddenly the phone beeped while I was still in Kentucky. I had a trip request. I pushed “accept”.
The app directed me to Bonefish Grill. I looked for a human, then realized I was there for a food pickup.
Ooohhh.
Inside the building, I felt the little kick in the stomach that sometimes comes when I see couples out having fun. Couples without wheelchairs everywhere.
Aside from that soon squelched jealousy, I wanted to scream, “This is my first time with Uber!”
So many thoughts.
Servers brought the food bag. I hoped it was all in there. I glanced at the number of containers, but I am not familiar with that restaurant’s food.
Off I went 10 miles to find house numbers in the dark.
A nonchalant woman took the food after I called her.
8 dollars earned. Was that enough of a trial run or should I continue?
I see a “$5 bonus for 3 series” trip on the map. I am not far away so I head that direction thinking, What type of person needs 3 back to back trips? Will this be a grandma who needs to run a few errands? At 930pm?
Shows how clueless I am. That was simply an enticement to stay in an area and do multiple trips.
Which was fine, bonus either way. My first passenger was named the same as my best friend’s daughter. That gave me comfort. She was a sweetheart too.
At one point, I felt lonely on top of my newbie anxiety. Then inbetween trips, I received a text from my bestie seeing if I was out giving Uber Driver a go. It meant a lot to be checked on and she reminded me of Joshua 1:9 at the very moment I had made $19.19.
Then our 17yo texted at 11:30pm to ask, “Everything ok?” before he went to bed. That warmed my soul.
I stopped around midnight with 5 total trips and 45 dollars. Thank you to Madeline and Autumn who tipped. I can’t figure out if there is a way to say thanks through the app.
That is all I could handle on a first go. No matter how I tried to be calm, I couldn’t manage to be relaxed in this new arena yet.
I’ll keep my car clean and try to pick up more this week.
For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
Glenna S. Edwards 