I thought my Christmas Uber driver was cute — but then he handed me a ‘creepy’ note
You never quite know what you’re going to get when you order a rideshare service to come and pick you up.
The driver could be chatty, or they might not want a bar of you at all.
Some come with drinks, others might let you choose the music, and, coming up to Christmas, it seems a few are getting into the festive spirit.
But one Australian mom has shared her unique experience in an Uber this week — and she’s not quite sure what to make of it.
The Christmas Uber
After going out for dinner on Friday night, mom Nama Winston booked an Uber to ensure she ended her night safely. But, she never could have predicted what would show up.
“The Uber that arrived looked like Christmas had thrown up on it. It was very festive,” she said.
“I asked the driver if he had kids, and he just said he really likes Christmas. Being the polite and also interested person I am, I asked if he was celebrating with family this year. He said his family was in Brazil, so he and his mates do Christmas together.”
Aside from the decorations, which ranged from fairy lights to Santa hats and tinsel, everything seemed normal.
As the drive came to a close, Nama said she was just about ready to hop out of the car – though not before the driver could give her one last message.
“As we drove, I noticed him rustling at something in the driver’s seat,” she said.
“Watching his driving carefully, I was relieved to arrive home.
“He turned around and gave me an envelope.
“‘Merry Christmas,’ he said.
“I saw it was sealed with a little Christmas sticker. It was also directly addressed to me.”
“Creepy!”
Despite being more than a little weirded out, Nama said she thanked the driver for his nice gesture and wished him happy holidays before getting out of the car.
Then, she rushed upstairs to show her teenage son so that they could open the envelope together.
Inside was a card, a Christmas chocolate and a candy cane. The card, with Nama’s name on it, read a simple message.
“Thanks for being a valued passenger. I’m glad I could get you safely to your destination,” it said.
“Your trust and kindness make my job a pleasure! I wish you Happiness, Health and Love always!”
Whilst Nama’s name was handwritten, the message seemed to have been stamped on.
Upon showing her son, opinions were definitely mixed.
“At first I thought it was a little promotion for him as a driver, but really, his message was so heartfelt, it seemed really genuine,” she said.
“My son wasn’t so impressed, and pronounced it all ‘creepy!’
“Yes, it felt a bit too familiar, and I was weirded out for that reason; but it also made me think about how cynical I am, mostly thanks to social media, where kind acts are often questioned.”
Friends also weighed in, with one agreeing that the move was “creepy” and warned against eating the treats, while another joked, “This is your next chance at love.”
And so poses the question — was the driver just trying to do something nice, or is it all a bit too strange?
