When The Passenger Performs

 As we move slowly and haltingly out of the pandemic, we're starting to get back to a rideshare experience where conversation with the driver is more common. This can make the shift more memorable... but not, well, more pleasant. Let's get into ome of the month's, um, best.

> "I just got out of prison." (Followed up by that he's late for his parole visit to a halfway house, and that he's drunk.)

Well, thanks for sharing. Let's just get you to where you are going so that I can 3-star you once I'm no longer in your line of sight... regardless of your tip.

> Two passengers decide to perform a drunken performance art skit involving same-sex shenanigans, as if this is something I'm going to react strongly to. (And yes, having known Proud people for decades, I can tell when it's drunken straight guys doing a bit. You could too, assuming your usual ride isn't on the back of a turnip truck.) 

After ten minutes of escalation ending in a drop off and three stars, I head off to my next fare... who tell about a lump of evening-changing cash in the back, and refuses to take any of it as a finder's fee. Karmic costs!

Now, it's not always bad. 

> I had an amazing fare for an hour with a woman who works in archaeology. Had a personal connection to a recent scandal involving the disposal of remains from the MOVE tragedy. Also confirmed that the coverage of human sacrifice in Central American indigenous tribes was oversold on cultural racism. Great hour.

> Another amazing conversation with a computer engineer at a big brokerage firm who used to be a (wait for it) performing ballerina. Since she presents as female in that field, she also gets to be the social conduit for other members of the team. Sounds lucrative, but far from equitable -- and the neighborhood that I dropped her off in was in no way what you'd predict for either of those occupations. You never know, really.

> A guy who was recovering from the previous day's entertainment by stalking down his phone, including hours or pawing through his garbage. At least his day ended well.

If patterns continue, more soon...