My Uber with Devin

I have had a lot of Uber rides. But none like this one.

He seemed friendly. It’s always a good sign when they message you right after they accept the ride. Well, most of the time. Sometimes that means they just want to see where you’re going so they can cancel you.

That wasn’t the case here. But it was the first time I’ve been asked, “How many people are you?”

I didn’t think much of it. Maybe he was asking because it was so far of a trip? It was a good one for him, I was going from my mom’s house in Daytona Beach to Jacksonville Airport nearly two hours away. Not sure why he asked, but he asked it and I chalked it up to maybe his car didn’t have a lot of space and he knew I was going to an airport. I answered and he immediately responded.

Uber Message: ??

A few minutes later Devin showed up. I approached the rear passenger door, not really paying attention to anything else. My muscle memory thanks to hundreds of Uber rides. I reached for the door and was surprised to see two people already in the backseat. No older than 7 or 8 years old. A boy and a girl, doing what looked like homework.

Devin signaled me to the front and I got right in. I didn’t care about being in the front seat for the drive. I did expect to get a bunch of work done, but maybe being disconnected for the next few hours would be fine. I can do most work from my phone anyway.

The car was a mess. Not a mess like food and wrappers all over the place. Just in the way that immediately told me Devin had a lot on his plate. Papers, ID badges, a Starbucks hat and his Bethune Cookman flag proudly dangling from the rear view. It didn’t take me long to realize that Devin was on daddy duty.

I couldn’t help thinking about how hard it is to raise a child today. It made me think about Nico, my 5-year old daughter, and how at the end of the day so much of what is about her and making it all work.?

The next two? hours were action packed. The kids wouldn’t stop. Arguing about homework, pointing out every gigantic American flag - a staple at every car dealership up and down I-95 -? that we passed, singing, and the call from Mom on speakerphone to check in and see how everybody was doing as she headed?out for an overnight shift.

Back to the ride. I had so many questions, but I didn’t ask any.

Instead, I just listened. I didn’t know Devin and he didn’t know me. I was just his ride. He was just my Uber driver.

Our trip ended at Terminal 1 and I thanked him before I got out, I hope the next ride takes you somewhere back towards home and not to Georgia, I said, then I said bye to Keisha and CJ. Then, just before I closed the door, I said to Devin, "Have a Happy Father’s Day."

He glanced at me again, nodded, and said thank you. Then his eyes snapped back to his phone. Time for the next ride.

Sam Caucci?| Founder & CEO at 1Huddle

If you agree with this piece, and want to learn more about how we are fighting for every worker -- check out more at?1H uddle .

Copyright ? 2022 1Huddle, Inc. All Rights Reserved.