Jessie Newburn – Page 41 – Jessie Newburn Writer

Thankful

MemoriesNovember 23, 2017533Views 0Likes 0Comments

Today was the day. It made the most sense. My sister was in town from the Bay Area; it was an easy day for my brother to come into Columbia; and, well, it just made sense, being a holiday, a holy day and all. Earlier today, in an incredibly casual, yet equally sincere, ceremony (of sorts), my…

A true gentleman

ExperiencesOctober 30, 2017801Views 0Likes 0Comments

There is a gentle man who comes through the neighborhood where I live. He does this each year in the fall, like clockwork, offering to clean leaves out of gutters and do minor patches on roofs. His prices are quite reasonable, and I have used his service often, as has my mother. Physically, this gentle man looks worn.…

He’s got a gal

My books ... and bitsOctober 10, 20171KViews 0Likes 0Comments

One of my Uber Chronicles stories. Next up, I’m wandering through a mess of a mall parking lot trying to find my rider. My GPS is telling me to turn right, now left, then left again, oops, rerouting, now right. Finally, I text the guy. Can you give me a landmark, please? He’s…

It’s his America-versary

Stories big and smallOctober 8, 20171KViews 0Likes 0Comments

An Uber Chronicles story He calls. He asks me to come to the front of the building and tells me that GPS will take me to the back parking lot, which is exactly where I am when he calls and gives me this information. He works in the building next to where I was working earlier today.…

THIS is Burning Man!

Burning Man, CultchaSeptember 22, 2017830Views 0Likes 0Comments

While the interwebs are filled with photos of glamorous, hot, sexy, booty-short-wearing women (and men) at #BurningMan… women with inexplicably clean hair, with boots they couldn’t walk more than 20 yards in (and never ride a bike in), and with outfits often looking like hundreds of dollars of designer-wear fashion went into their making, I offer…

Someone is always watching the house!

My books ... and bitsSeptember 10, 20171KViews 0Likes 0Comments

One of my Uber Chronicles stories. Beep. My next passenger is also on campus, which makes me happy. University of Maryland, College Park, is my alma mater, and I haven’t spent much time here since I graduated in the mid-’80s. Navigating to my passenger has me driving around campus in an area of…

Fleeing Wilma

ExperiencesSeptember 10, 2017877Views 0Likes 0Comments

In 2005, I was married to an amazing man, Eran Eisen, and we were living in south Florida, right below West Palm Beach, when news of Hurricane Wilma came through. Wilma was a slow-moving (meaning it was going to stay around awhile and not just blow through) Category 4 hurricane, the size of Texas, headed…

Five’s a crowd

Stories big and smallSeptember 3, 20171KViews 0Likes 0Comments

My next pick-up is nearby in Capitol Hill, land of many old historic homes, the U.S. Capitol, the Senate and House office buildings, the Library of Congress and more. I pull up and see a group of young adults, all clearly dressed for a special night out. There are five of them, and they walk to…

It was fate

SynchronicitiesSeptember 3, 20171KViews 1Like 0Comments

From my Uber Chronicles I’m on the highway heading home now. A ride request comes in. I take it. I’m headed to a Walmart to get my passenger. He calls right away. His voice is gentle, masculine and lovely. He asks me if his bike can fit in the back seat of my car. I tell…

Uber Chronicles book review on Marc’s Book Shelf

My books ... and bitsAugust 30, 2017984Views 0Likes 0Comments

A book review by Ahmed Ehimare Audu after my first Uber Chronicles book was published. The book Uber Chronicles: Field Notes from the Front Seat was loaned to me by a friend to whom I had spoken about my interest in driving professionally for Uber. “Read it,” she said. At first I…

Free sugar cookies

My books ... and bitsAugust 10, 2017581Views 0Likes 0Comments

I see my rider standing outside the Harris Teeter grocery store. He’s dressed in athletic clothing, looking nonchalant as heck. He sees me approaching and casually waves his hand in acknowledgement. His Uber manners and protocol are good. He states his first name. Pauses. Waits for me to acknowledge that he is, indeed, my passenger…

A story of norovirus and zombies

ExperiencesJune 13, 20171KViews 0Likes 0Comments

Late last night, as I was finishing up on a project, I started to feel not well. Maybe it was the cup of blackberry and cinnamon tea I’d just tried for the first time. Maybe it was all the prunes I ate in my search to find something quick and easy to eat earlier in…