I should've added, the story does continue. Actually, it rolls into another story, which is sorta the story of my life. Anyway, you can read about what happened after Clever dropped me off at the airport.
You write such a wonderful variety of things, Michael, and I am always entertained. But these conversations with strangers are my favorites. Who you are and your tweaked view of life are really transparent. The first Situation Normal I ever read was "Ride or Lie Homie" and I was immediately hooked.
Thank you, Sharron! I’m glad you like the Lyft driver stories! At the risk of being too sales-oriented, you should pick up a copy of Ride / Share. It’s a collection of Lyft driver stories I haven’t published here. (Link is at the end of the story).
I can picture you riding in the passenger seat, taking mental notes of the conversation because that’s what you do and a Lyft ride is like a Petri dish where stories grow like wildfire, or something like that. You’re doing your job, playing the straight man and not breaking character because that always gets you the best lines from people. But then he says his name. And you can’t help but smile because it’s too damn perfect.
1. Clever is an awesome name. Wish you'd asked if it was short for something. Like Cleverland. Or Cleverson.
2. I've been in an Uber once in my life and thankfully my brother was with me because I didn't get how it worked. I thought it was just like a cab where you say where you're going and pay at the end, but it's all done by magic now. Elves maybe.
I always called it the "Jesus bar," that trusty handle over the car window that gives you a false sense of security while riding shotgun with a hell bat driver. 🦇 Both my parents have become demons behind the wheel in their old age.
Glad this one hit the spot today! And you’re absolutely right, all of these apps run on elf magic. The engineers and designers and product leads and venture capitalists all are just window dressing. The whole digital revolution is elf-powered magic.
You should check Zimbabwe out. They have incredible names like Patience, Blessing, Providence and (my favorite), Lovemore. They also have plenty of Clevers. One Lovemore we employ (we have a few Lovemores) used to work for the secret police. He was basically a torturer back in the Mugabe days, but can also chat about Coltrane, the finer aspects of Piri Piri (a Mozambican sauce) and so much more.
When I first set up my consultancy business in the nineties I called it Clever Ideas. When I think back now, it was so cheesy. Within a year I changed it to something more sophisticated/dull 😀
I was really tempted, but my fear was that we’d drive all the way back to LA and he’d pass. Also, I’m determined to see my catalytic converter drama through to the end.
I loved this driver but I'm not sure if I would name a baby Clever. My god,the pressure! I did meet a man in the shoe department of Saks in Boston back in the late eighties whose name tag read, "Manley Love." The whole time he was talking to me I wondered how he was planning to live up to that name.
We have a Prius too. So far we've been lucky. Having a garage helps.
Manley Love would also be a lot of pressure for a name. Well, maybe not pressure. But I imagine he gets a lot of comments. On the one hand, I appreciate parents who make these unusual name choices; they’re comedy gold! But also, parents, please think this through and be kind to your kid!
I’ve a Brazilian friend named CleBer, which is a common Brazilian name, and the Latinos here in Miami seem to always have a problem (maybe, it’s not A problem, per se) to pronounce a B like a V, so he’d go by Clever in many places.
That’s really interesting! I think Clever was Filipino. Either that, or he just really loved flying the Filipino flag on his dashboard, and dangling mini Manny Pacquiao boxing gloves from the rear view.
Ah, that's funny. My son lives in Summerlin and we got an Uber to the airport when I left last time to come back to the UK. We also had an interesting chat with the driver, not about cars though. :-)
I should've added, the story does continue. Actually, it rolls into another story, which is sorta the story of my life. Anyway, you can read about what happened after Clever dropped me off at the airport.
https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelestrin/p/high-flier?r=1fqhx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Great story, Michael!
1. I wouldn’t. I’m a man whose mother named Caron, so I learned my lesson early.
2. Either. I don’t know the difference.
3. If I’m alone in the back seat, I’m reading, either you or Dobrenko.
4. My wife used to drive like that, but that’s a story for my Substack, not yours, my brother.
5. I’m a boomer. Never pass up an opportunity to educate someone on anything that used to be.
6. I’m a terrible businessman, but I did once get a response to a fan letter I wrote to David Mamet. One of my two cherished autographs.
Ok, I gotta ask. What’s the other autograph you cherish? The Mamet one is very cool!
Frank Herbert. I was a total sci-fi geek in college.
Holy shit! You've got two quality autographs! Here's an older story of mine about seeing Dune I think you might appreciate. https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelestrin/p/the-trial-of-a-sci-fi-freak?r=1fqhx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
You write such a wonderful variety of things, Michael, and I am always entertained. But these conversations with strangers are my favorites. Who you are and your tweaked view of life are really transparent. The first Situation Normal I ever read was "Ride or Lie Homie" and I was immediately hooked.
Thank you, Sharron! I’m glad you like the Lyft driver stories! At the risk of being too sales-oriented, you should pick up a copy of Ride / Share. It’s a collection of Lyft driver stories I haven’t published here. (Link is at the end of the story).
Done! Thank you.
Enjoy! And if you're so inclined, please leave a review. It really helps!
I can picture you riding in the passenger seat, taking mental notes of the conversation because that’s what you do and a Lyft ride is like a Petri dish where stories grow like wildfire, or something like that. You’re doing your job, playing the straight man and not breaking character because that always gets you the best lines from people. But then he says his name. And you can’t help but smile because it’s too damn perfect.
That’s a eerily accurate picture! Honestly, what I love about Lyft rides is that the chances are excellent something will happen.
I needed this story today, Michael. 😁
1. Clever is an awesome name. Wish you'd asked if it was short for something. Like Cleverland. Or Cleverson.
2. I've been in an Uber once in my life and thankfully my brother was with me because I didn't get how it worked. I thought it was just like a cab where you say where you're going and pay at the end, but it's all done by magic now. Elves maybe.
I always called it the "Jesus bar," that trusty handle over the car window that gives you a false sense of security while riding shotgun with a hell bat driver. 🦇 Both my parents have become demons behind the wheel in their old age.
Glad this one hit the spot today! And you’re absolutely right, all of these apps run on elf magic. The engineers and designers and product leads and venture capitalists all are just window dressing. The whole digital revolution is elf-powered magic.
You should check Zimbabwe out. They have incredible names like Patience, Blessing, Providence and (my favorite), Lovemore. They also have plenty of Clevers. One Lovemore we employ (we have a few Lovemores) used to work for the secret police. He was basically a torturer back in the Mugabe days, but can also chat about Coltrane, the finer aspects of Piri Piri (a Mozambican sauce) and so much more.
“Always being hustling” is my new motto.
I loved this story Michael! It was all my favorite SN topics rolled up in one. Well, you could have thrown in a food board mention...
Thanks Anne! Maybe if he had driven back to LA we could’ve stopped for a snackle box
Oh this was gold! And such a clever ending! 😁
😁
I really want to hear the rest of the story....
You accept his offer and he takes you back to California.
Along the way...
And then...
You could call it Clever Stories.
Your welcome. Lol.
(And if you don’t write it, maybe I will!)
Haha, you that would've been an interesting story. But I had a flight to catch. And as it turned out, that led to another story. https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelestrin/p/high-flier?r=1fqhx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
When I first set up my consultancy business in the nineties I called it Clever Ideas. When I think back now, it was so cheesy. Within a year I changed it to something more sophisticated/dull 😀
*You’re
Clever.
I really want you to trade cars.
I was really tempted, but my fear was that we’d drive all the way back to LA and he’d pass. Also, I’m determined to see my catalytic converter drama through to the end.
Yes, we really want to know the end of that story.
Me too. Me too.
I loved this driver but I'm not sure if I would name a baby Clever. My god,the pressure! I did meet a man in the shoe department of Saks in Boston back in the late eighties whose name tag read, "Manley Love." The whole time he was talking to me I wondered how he was planning to live up to that name.
We have a Prius too. So far we've been lucky. Having a garage helps.
Manley Love would also be a lot of pressure for a name. Well, maybe not pressure. But I imagine he gets a lot of comments. On the one hand, I appreciate parents who make these unusual name choices; they’re comedy gold! But also, parents, please think this through and be kind to your kid!
I’ve a Brazilian friend named CleBer, which is a common Brazilian name, and the Latinos here in Miami seem to always have a problem (maybe, it’s not A problem, per se) to pronounce a B like a V, so he’d go by Clever in many places.
That’s really interesting! I think Clever was Filipino. Either that, or he just really loved flying the Filipino flag on his dashboard, and dangling mini Manny Pacquiao boxing gloves from the rear view.
Loved this post - I was still laughing at the end about your Meatloaf joke at the beginning...! 🤣
That’s the great thing about meat loaf (the singer and the food). Both are great now, both are still great later.
🙌
I take it you didn’t end up switching cars?
I chat with my driver when they want to talk. Otherwise, I stare out the window or listen to music. Reading in the car makes me nauseous.
We did not trade cars. But May is just around the corner so I’m due for a resolution on my catalytic converter saga.
I did not see that coming.
Ah, that's funny. My son lives in Summerlin and we got an Uber to the airport when I left last time to come back to the UK. We also had an interesting chat with the driver, not about cars though. :-)
I like Summerlin. It’s close to all the Las Vegas stuff without being in the center of the action. Hope your son likes it there.
Yes, he's really happy there. And I like to visit every year. It's perfect for the Red Rock Canyon and the Strip. Love it.