My Uber Driver Became an Uber Angel for the Simplest Reason

Photo by @joyflowerphotography

The Decision

There are moments when personal limitations and the need for self-care are so crystal clear that dramatic choices need to be made. Choices like calling an Uber at 9 o’clock at night and leaving a girls’ weekend in wine country to go home, and home is an hour away.

Yes, it was an odd decision to go wine tasting in the middle of a dietary cleanse where I’m not drinking alcohol. It was also difficult to leave for the weekend after a particularly hard fight with my husband that followed a long night of insomnia.

But I love the friends who were going and the wine tasting was just one part of a full weekend with other activities. So, I headed to wine country, sipped sparkling water, and served as the designated driver as my friends enjoyed dozens of pours.

The Temperature

Now, this particular California wine country is about an hour east of Los Angeles and in August it is hot. Very hot. So despite not drinking wine, I started feeling a little woozy from the heat. And from my sleepless night. And from my emotional exhaustion from the conversation with my husband.

We did repair a little before I walked out the door, a repair that included a hug and reminder that we were going to make it. (We often quote to one another the wise sage John Bon Jovi, “We’re gonna make, I swear.”) But all day after I left, I just wanted to settle in next to him and continue reconnecting.

I also didn’t realize just how many pictures we were going to take, pictures where I often felt like the odd woman out next to my stunning friends; friends who appeared to be completely unaffected by the heat while I was visibly melting with each step.

Heat, exhaustion, marital disconnect, and melting are not great ingredients for a fun weekend.

The Final Straw

After the wineries, the plan was to regroup in our shared room at the hotel and get ready for dinner and bar hopping. Before we reached the door, I quickly realized I was out of my league on the rallying to party front, too tired for anything but bed.

I felt tears welling up as we reached our room, a migraine starting in my temples, and nausea building in my stomach.

While they puttered around and checked social media, I pulled a blanket over me and took a migraine pill hoping to find some energy for the next phase of our evening. But all I wanted was my own bed.

It is one thing to want to go home, it is quite another to be an hour from home with no way to get there. There was also the building anxiety about bailing on the weekend.

As my friends discussed the evening plans, I suddenly announced through tears, I’m going home. I called an Uber, gathered my bags, and made my way to the door.

The Anxiety Relieved

There is a nervousness about getting into an Uber for an hour’s drive home. I concluded if I felt an initial vibe of discomfort I would cancel. But when the car arrived, a kind gentleman opened the door.

“I am originally from Iran,” he began as he pulled out of the hotel, “and I am a grandfather. Two grandchildren,” he told me, pulling up pictures on his phone.

“I just started driving Uber after I sold my business. It was my business for over twenty years,” he continued.

I was just so thankful there were no serial killer vibes and I settled into the seat, slowly relaxing in the air conditioning.

The Gifts

When he needed to stop for gas before the freeway, he bought me a Frappuccino, “For my new daughter” he said and I didn’t tell him about my cleanse, moved by his thoughtfulness.

After a few minutes, I said softly, “Please excuse me if I close my eyes for a minute.”

“Oh, you are tired. You sleep. I will let you sleep,” he replied as I closed my eyes, my headache remarkably gone and nausea subsiding.

I was vaguely aware of our exiting the freeway, a little groggy as we neared my street, amazed we were at my door so quickly.

As he pulled my bags from the trunk, he offered me some figs from one of his many fruit trees, and I resisted the urge to hug him, so thankful to be delivered home lighter, cooler, a little rested, enveloped in kindness. And hopeful I hadn’t ruined any chance of ever getting invited on a girls’ trip again.