It finally happened again. I went to Harps and bought a few groceries, after engaging in a bit of social shenanigans. And helping a couple of customers. When I exited the store and got to my car, I couldn’t find my keys. That was when I realized that my car was running with the keys locked inside. Because my car has old style pull knobs, I knew I could get a coat hanger and eventually pop it open. Eventually is the keyword. I called for an Uber and it arrived quickly. Within seconds of speaking with the driver, I realized that there was a significant language barrier, one involving a language I only knew a couple of words in. When I attempted to establish a return ride through the app, the only word I could understand was “No no no!” Pantomine was fruitless. For a brief second I wanted to play a game of charades and pretend I was having a heart attack. Under such a scenario, I would at least end up at my workplace, albeit with an involuntary IV in my arm as a result of the joke.

When he arrived at my apartment, he would only nod. Accepting my fate, I bid him farewell. I could have been telling him to have a happy bat mitzvah. I set up another ride for my return to Harps, hopefully this time to be inside it. Within seconds, my ride was accepted. It took me 10 seconds to retrieve one of my extra car keys. For a brief second, I thought that perhaps the older man who didn’t speak any language we both could use might accept my second ride request. Another very similar black car accepted my Uber request. The second driver laughed and shook his head. He told me several good stories about Uber and some of the drivers that he considered crazy, one of which involved an old police car that still had the detention partition in the middle and required the driver to get out and open the rear door for the passenger. What could possibly go wrong with that scenario?

Out of my forgetfulness came a good conversation. I made it back home safely with two sets of keys on me. If you wonder why I have four car keys, this is part of the reason. Were it not for some groceries, I probably would have walked back and forth instead of calling for a ride.
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