The Maiden Voyage
One week after losing my job, I hit the road to Ride Share. My first day was typical of January in Iowa - cold. I set out with my coffee and cellphone, RS app open and online. About ten minutes into my drive, my phone makes a dinging sound - a strange graphic appears with a countdown, and I have my first ride request. Panic. 😬 I have 15 seconds to take action... I touch the screen, which was obviously all I need to do. My rider, Chrissy is 8 minutes away. I touch Navigate. The handy-dandy RS app then proceeds to direct me (both verbally and with a graphic onscreen map) to my rider's home address. It is an apartment complex but Ms.GPS guides me right to the front door. Chrissy comes out to the car with her two children in tow.
"Good Morning," I say.
"Hi!" replies Chrissy. "How are you today?"
"OK, I think. This is my first day working, you're my first ride... ever"
"Did you hear that kids? We're her first riders." They appear unimpressed.
Chrissy/Mom is seated in the front seat, the son and daughter in the back. Mom proceeds to tell me we have two stops to make before returning to the apartment complex. OK. I swipe the Start Trip and Ms. GPS tells me our first stop is Casey's General Store. We arrive. The kids and I remain in the car while Mom goes inside, returning moments later with a box of donuts, chocolate milk and juice. She doles out breakfast to the kiddos explaining to me she needs groceries at home, which is why they are eating on the way to school. I shouldn't worry though because she didn't get donuts with sprinkles.
The three proceed to eat as I'm directed the several mile route to their elementary school. Mom tells me they are moving to this other school district at the end of the month, which is why it is such a long way from their current residence. The little girl asks me if they can watch TV. I realize the DVD player we have in the backseat (for our grandchildren) is going to be an attraction to little people. "Sorry," I say, "I don't have any movies with me. Maybe another time."
Mom continues to visit with me about the new home they are moving to when the little boy pipes up. "Mom... Addy is tooting." Mom admonishes Addy not to toot and brother goes on to say, "It stinks." I think to myself, What have I gotten myself into?
We drop the children off at their school and proceed back to the apartment complex. Chrissy continues to enlighten me on RS protocol. She tells me I need a phone holder. (Evidently holding my phone isn't protocol). "I have one I'll give you! I used it for work but I don't need it anymore." Sweet. By the time we make it back to the apartment (thirty minutes or so after the initial pick up) I feel like I have a new friend. She runs to her garage and retrieves the phone holder (it sticks on the windshield and looks like an elephant's trunk). "Here you go!" She then instructs me how to "end the trip" on my phone and says she'll 'tip me' on her app. Wow - this is amazing. My RS app allows me to rate my rider. Five stars for Chrissy! A phone holder, $3 tip, and on the job training for NanaMama. My new career has begun.
"Good Morning," I say.
"Hi!" replies Chrissy. "How are you today?"
"OK, I think. This is my first day working, you're my first ride... ever"
"Did you hear that kids? We're her first riders." They appear unimpressed.
Chrissy/Mom is seated in the front seat, the son and daughter in the back. Mom proceeds to tell me we have two stops to make before returning to the apartment complex. OK. I swipe the Start Trip and Ms. GPS tells me our first stop is Casey's General Store. We arrive. The kids and I remain in the car while Mom goes inside, returning moments later with a box of donuts, chocolate milk and juice. She doles out breakfast to the kiddos explaining to me she needs groceries at home, which is why they are eating on the way to school. I shouldn't worry though because she didn't get donuts with sprinkles.
The three proceed to eat as I'm directed the several mile route to their elementary school. Mom tells me they are moving to this other school district at the end of the month, which is why it is such a long way from their current residence. The little girl asks me if they can watch TV. I realize the DVD player we have in the backseat (for our grandchildren) is going to be an attraction to little people. "Sorry," I say, "I don't have any movies with me. Maybe another time."
Mom continues to visit with me about the new home they are moving to when the little boy pipes up. "Mom... Addy is tooting." Mom admonishes Addy not to toot and brother goes on to say, "It stinks." I think to myself, What have I gotten myself into?
We drop the children off at their school and proceed back to the apartment complex. Chrissy continues to enlighten me on RS protocol. She tells me I need a phone holder. (Evidently holding my phone isn't protocol). "I have one I'll give you! I used it for work but I don't need it anymore." Sweet. By the time we make it back to the apartment (thirty minutes or so after the initial pick up) I feel like I have a new friend. She runs to her garage and retrieves the phone holder (it sticks on the windshield and looks like an elephant's trunk). "Here you go!" She then instructs me how to "end the trip" on my phone and says she'll 'tip me' on her app. Wow - this is amazing. My RS app allows me to rate my rider. Five stars for Chrissy! A phone holder, $3 tip, and on the job training for NanaMama. My new career has begun.
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