Wisdom arises in many forms and from many places. The latest comes from an Uber driver in Boston. I am always curious about drivers, facts about the city I am visiting, sports trivia, and other bits of information.
It started when I asked how Quanell got away with wearing a Chicago Bulls shirt in Celtic territory. He laughed and explained that it wasn’t for the team but rather for the player on the shirt, Dennis Rodman. That conversation led to interesting passengers and trips.
He explained about Uber’s offers of “Ride Share” where people pile into the car with others that they do not know. As he called it “Degrees of Drunkenness”. An elegant, wedding bound couple, for example, were surprised when the car stopped for three “first-time-in-Boston” inebriated twenty-somethings climbed in. By degrees it became quite an adventure!
That brings me to degrees of anything. When I enter a restaurant and a grouchy server stops by the table, blurting something about beverages, and the degree of joy to which my mind travels. I’d say about 0.
A bad day belonging to someone else is not my own and I should not have to pay for it. A little bit of happiness makes the situation better; a rousing smile improves it.
Even if the drink I want is unavailable or if the food is OK but not terrific, a high degree of friendliness and delight with the world remedies even the roughest of situations. After all, it is not the fault of the server if the fresh produce got lost or the head chef is home ill. A degree of “Things happen” increases my positive outlook and that of those around me.
Let’s play the degree game with a meeting and a time when exuberance may fall short. My sister Marilyn and I attended a meeting prior to a cruise. Receiving a lengthy hand-out, we examined the itinerary as Guide Karen noted the intricacies. Thrilled to regale us with the details of our voyage, she pointed out the $2 tip here, the $5 tip there, and the $17 per day per stateroom tip for waiters, room attendants, those who work below deck and more.
She piled on tales of how important these “donations” were to the dedicated workers on board (agreed) and how convenient it is that this is simply added to the credit card on file (disagreed). While ship employees work hard, I do not like a forced payment. Please let me do my own tip determination. My anticipation of this lovely trip dissipated the more Karen’s enthusiasm grew on various dispersements.
With a deepening degree of annoyance Marilyn and I realized we had some twenties on us, but no one’s or fives for the numerous expected handouts. We headed to our hotel desk to get change as we prepared for our launch the next day.
Standing in line during a period of busy check-in, 20 minutes brought us to the hotel agent. Yes, it was possible to exchange the bills, however, the safe was out of her jurisdiction. She pointed to a new line, the line with a disgruntled mother and son, and so we waited 20 minutes more. When our turn our came, Cassandra smiled, took our cash and disappeared into the bowels of the front office. 15 minutes later she reappeared with a fresh stack of ones and fives – had she been printing the crisp bills? Maybe. Her degree of satisfaction at assisting us helped, but I can’t say that we left with galloping glee just to fulfill our tipping obligations.
To accentuate my degree of discontentment I plan to offer some advice – uninvited perhaps, but warranted, to cruise officials. Just tell me at the outset what my total bill will be. Do not tag on tips, internet charges, deluxe dining fees, excursion fares, transfer costs, and other added unexpected expenses. Tell me up front what I owe. Maybe this doesn’t work as someone may back out at the total price due ahead of sail, but I’d sure appreciate it. Perhaps this is not a feasible practice as some do not tip well but they pay up based on an aggravating bullying technique. Please, readers, weigh in here.
In retrospect, I hated it when my kids peddled salamis, wrapping paper, and candy for school projects. I’d have preferred a bill upfront rather than encouraging a side hustle. Thanks to Driver Quanell I better understand degrees, drunkenness or otherwise, and the impact on my attitude.