Our Lyft Hit a Biker

July 12, 2018 by Cazey Williams in Life In Your 20's, Cazey's Column

For the past several years, my go-to fun fact has been telling people I’ve been hit by a car twice. This always grabs people’s attention and they want to know how, which I myself can’t give an accurate explanation for why I’ve been hit twice. But now I can add a new narrative to my arsenal: I have been in a car that has hit someone.

This past weekend, my friends and I car-pooled to brunch. Our cast includes Justin who makes frequent appearances on this blog as my former illegal roommate and who was also present two years ago when I broke an Uber. Also costarring are Molly and Alina, two longtime friends.

Our Lyft driver arrived almost immediately after I beckoned him. Several brunches ago, Molly and I got into a brawl because I tend to think we’re going to leave at 11 am when we say 11 and she assumes that means the party won’t possibly put on shoes until 11:20 AM.

Getting Home on New Year's Eve: The Tow Truck Taxi

December 29, 2016 by Cazey Williams in life lessons, Humor, Cazey's Column, Life In Your 20's

Five years ago, my friend had me over for New Year's Eve. I was 20 at the time, not yet of legal age to drink, but of course I did (so sorry, Mom). Needless to say, we drank at my friend's house.

Now I drove to my friend's. Earlier in the day I had seen AAA had a New Year's Eve program where they provided free safe (and sober) transportation to members and non-members. This was 2011, so Uber and Lyft were not things. Aha, this is how I would get home.

Of course, my friend said I could stay over, but I preferred my own bed and this was a free service. Why wouldn't I use it? the selfish millennial in me asked. I showed up without even a toothbrush in case I changed my mind.

Speak Up About Drunk Driving

December 28, 2016 by Cazey Williams in Life In Your 20's, life lessons, Cazey's Column

I find it hard to get worked up about a lot of things. During the elections, I got in no arguments, Facebook or otherwise, with the hoodwinked imbeciles who voted for the unfiltered Putin wannabe. When my apartment came under a mouse invasion, I frowned and remarked we needed to buy some traps (versus my roommate who was ready to declare nuclear war on rodents and landlords). When my project partner didn't do her part, I tweeted passive aggressively and did it for her.

But there is one thing that gets my embers glowing: drunk driving. In 2016, the public sentiment tends to be, don't do it (can we say it louder for those in the back?). I stand and applaud this (and I keep clapping long after the audience has retaken their seats). Driving under the influence is barbaric, selfish, unnecessary, and every other negative adjective I can grab.

Always Call Uber

July 19, 2016 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Humor, Life In Your 20's, life lessons

Last night I returned from Amsterdam. Four days of traversing the Holland countryside had me drained, plus my connecting flight was delayed by five hours, two hours of which we were in the air before we returned to the ground. (Yes, we went up into sky before the pilot announced they found a "small technical issue" so we had to return to the Keflavik airport, and then we waited three hours to re-board. Nice to see you again, Iceland.)

The point is, I was exhausted. I walked out of customs with Uber up on my phone. I left my car 7.5 miles away at my friend's parents' Maryland home. Estimated fare was $11-$15, which I thought was a bit high, but I'm used to splitting fare three ways and only going three miles to a downtown bar in Richmond. Whatever. I requested.

A man walked up to me and asked where I needed to go. I totally forgot cab drivers hang around airport like flies at a trashcan.