"Joy of Uber Driving"

A trip to the Danger Zone

In 2015 when I was 76 years old I started driving for Uber in the Bay area for which I am profoundly grateful. Subsequently, it gave me a theme to couch my memoir in, which is basically about my journey towards spiritual transformation. My book “The Joy of Uber Driving -A Wild Ride to Self Love” was published in 2019 and I received an award from IBA (International Book Awards) for Spiritual Inspiration.

My work as an Uber driver has become my spiritual practice where I am able to create meaningful alliances and amazing adventures by invoking a prayer of intention each time I begin my rounds. Being a social worker in the past, it is sometimes natural for me to tune in and say the very thing they need to hear. Or magically they will say something I need to hear. I’ve attracted a wide range of thoughtful, open and engaging people, one of whom appeared in the beginning of my Uber journey:

Ping! I was directed to the financial district near Market Street where a young girl named Lorelei in her early twenties stood. As I dove up, she hopped into the back seat and we exchanged greetings. Soon, she started rummaging through a large cloth bag and drew out a slinky black dress and some flashy jewelry. To my amazement, she pulled down her brown wool leggings, pulled off her sweater, and then wriggled into the dress rather dexterously in the small backseat area. She seemed unconcerned about possible gawkers. She then replaced her walking shoes with spike heels and stuffed her work clothes in the bag. Breathlessly, after achieving this feat in record time, she apologized and then began to perform a hair and makeup do-over.

While applying eyeliner, she explained that she was going to audition as a singer at a well-known club on Broadway and she was very nervous. (For those who don’t know San Francisco, Broadway is in North Beach and has rows of strip clubs). Without makeup she was a naturally pretty girl crowned with copper-colored hair tied in a knot, who looked too sweet and naive to be in that environment.

I mentioned that I had been a singer myself once, and she said “Oh really? How exciting! Were you with a band?” I shook my head, “No not really”. I told her about my life as an aspiring actress and singer in Hollywood and then told her to be very careful, as people are not always what they seem. “The best thing to do is follow your gut instinct and be true to yourself. If they want you to do something that doesn’t feel right, chances are it isn’t.”

I watched as she artfully transformed herself into a striking beauty with large green, doe-like eyes and long wavy hair cascading over her shoulders. When I let her off at her destination, I wished her well, and she thanked me and told me not to worry. She disappeared, spike heels and all, into what I would call a black hole on Broadway. I whispered a silent prayer for her and answered another “ping”.

Little did I know then that more than a year later I would encounter a whole new and different Loralie.