I cyah lie. I was really nervous about taking Lyft after things started reopening here in Atlanta. Pre Covid, I’d already started having thoughts of if I was being presumptuous because of my having a scooter and assuming that the driver will just pick it up and go. Now, post covid, I still have those thoughts coupled with “will drivers want to touch my scooter” – maybe people will think that it’s just more surfaces for Covid germs and increased transmission risk. Ugh! Honestly though, venturing out ANYWHERE when places started opening up was a little daunting to me. I have mentioned before that anytime I get sick, I am down for the count. I honestly don’t think that anyone can really appreciate how bad things get for me unless they’ve actually experienced it and I’m sure that there are people who think I’m exaggerating but say what. Anyway, so seeing and hearing what people go through after contracting it, makes it the last entry on my list of “things that I want to experience” but by the end of 2020, I was sick and tired of my 4 walls and I was ready to start living again. Were/are my Lyft fears unfounded? I dunno but it is what it is…
At the end of the day all I could do was continue using Lyft or stay inside so I put on my big girl panties and started back, besides there were times that I didn’t have a choice (more to come on that later). I figured that I’d walk with wipes, sanitizer, whatever else I could put my hands on to try to try to allay any fears.
Turns out my fears were unfounded (at least up to now) because the issue has not been raised. No-one has said anything, and I no longer walk with wipes etc. The company has put some parameters in place and masks are required to ride with anyone and these days, it’s not uncommon to get into a car with a plexiglass partition separating the front seats from the back. In fact, riders are strongly encouraged to sit in the back “away” from drivers – not a problem for me because that’s what I’ve been doing all along anyway. Interestingly enough tho, a driver reported me for not wearing my mask properly. Admittedly when I’m waiting for the car, there are times that I’d have the mask slung under my chin and once they pull up and I start walking them thru the steps to break down the scooter, I put it on. I’m not sure what happened that time…maybe I didn’t pull it up soon enough? haven’t a clue but I KNOW I had it on in the car; I really don’t know why he reported me. Anyway, after that happened, I had to re-certify that I wear masks and wear them properly before I could ride again. It wasn’t a showstopper and I continue to use the service to get around albeit not as much as before.
Even though pretty much everything and everywhere is open here, I don’t venture out as much as I used to. My friends and I joke all the time that as far as the powers that be here are concerned, “covid is done” and life is normal. I don’t share that same view although I do believe that it’s going nowhere fast, so we have to learn to coexist somehow. That said though, I still haven’t eaten out in a restaurant for dinner since 2019 nor have I started back rock climbing…couldn’t even tell you the last time that I went to a mall – everything’s still just kinda weird and I am at home alot more than pre-covid. Of course, this is also my hibernation period, so truth be told I am in no hurry to go out anyway. Come March, we’ll see how things change…
Anyway, I gone so…allyuh hol’ it down and have a great weekend!
Stax