Conversations Characters and a Ride Share - 2nd

International Passenger service

As promised here is the 2nd installment of the conversations. And today I start talking about professions.

Many of the drivers on the app-based ride share services that I have met are not full-time drivers. They have other professions and they do this to on the side for many reasons. Income augment is sometimes one of those reasons.

Once I was in Dallas Texas and had used a ride service from North Plano to DFW  (Dallas Fort Worth) Airport. The distances in Texas are really Texas size. In almost 1-hour drive, I started with my general query, "Is this your full-time work, or you do something else besides this app-based cab driving?"

He smiled and said, no this is only a few days a month rest of the time I do something else, very similar in general term but still so different. Mystery element in the statement was obvious especially when he turned to me and smiled. So, what exactly you do? I take passengers from one place to another a little longer distance than my car rides. To be precise from Dallas to Japan, I am a pilot. Wow! I said while my eyes widened. So why do you do this, I am sure flying international pays a lot. 
Maybe, but I don't do it for money he said. I am flying international almost 15 days a month and resting a few, that leaves me with just one week or less each month. Too little to make friends and plan anything. By driving this I connect with people, I learn and live. Gives me a feeling of being connected. Thinking of him sitting in the cockpit of a big airliner for hours with minimal human interaction, except occasional chat with copilots or a nudge from the crew for food or so. I could well understand his reason for driving. 

Lately, I am being afraid of flying give me some advice, I asked. Statistically speaking, planes are safer than cars, he replied with a hearty laugh. But then with serious note he said, to overcome fear of flying, learn to fly and then you will be good. Great advice, not that I am planning to follow any time soon. He gave me some more tips on knowing about planes and their safety etc. I shared what I do for a living and some insights of life from my vantage point, when he asked. Over all we had a great conversation Mr. Pilot and Mr. Cab driver in alter ego. 

May you continue having great conversations and stay fulfilled. One day I may act on your advice, but "the planes are safer than cars" have made me bit more confident about flying. Not sure how it has impacted my driving. 

Aha! Caught you there my friend. Hope to see you another time on another trip till then safe flying and happy driving.

1st note in this series below if you did't read earlier 
https://nuancesofbeing.blogspot.com/2018/10/conversations-characters-and-ride-share.html 

Conversations Characters and a Ride Share - 1st

The Sound of Silence 

I started using an app-based ride-sharing/ taxi service a few years ago. Never an early adapter to the things that become talk of town. I try to go by merit then hype on my picks. Obviously, bragging rights is never a part of my decision criteria.

Well, ever since I started using the service, reluctantly at first, I've found one big merit. The conversations that one ends up having. Usually you meet drivers who are from all walks of life and mostly you end up having a conversation that you feel should go on beyond the journey that you shared.

I've many stories and many characters from my such experiences, some just fun and some great learning. I promise I will share some of those. But today I am writing about the driver I had this morning (and as a matter of fact 2 days before too I had the same driver).

If you ask what so good about that conversation with this driver that I want to write about as the 1st in this line of conversations. In reality, we had no conversation at all, both the times. At least not in the way I’ve been conditioned to converse. She didn't say even a word (neither did  I). She was nice, polite, very professional but she didn't utter a word, because she couldn't hear or speak. She could understand my gestures while driving me to the airport. Picking the turns that I suggested. Dropping me at the gate that I wanted, even though it was not on her well-prepared placard that one could point to. 

She wore an awesome smile and an awesome attitude throughout. Very professional, knew her work well, had excellent grip on the road, had mastered the driving. She couldn't speak or hear, but she didn't need any of that. 

My 1st conversation to mention was not a conversation. Not in traditional sense, but truly a million unsaid words as an ode to resilience, professionalism and attitude to overcome the challenge that some less optimally working faculties has presented her. 

Ms. J, thanks for speaking the language of courage. Hope to see you again on another such trips and listen to your silence and courage. And learn some more.