Behind the wheel: Late night stories and new fans.

I drove from 7:30 PM on the 4th of July until 5 AM on the 5th. It’s a long stretch, but there’s something about those late-night hours — when the fireworks smoke has finally settled and the city quiets down — that brings out stories you don’t hear in the daytime.

Around 3 AM, I had three passengers in the car, swapping stories with me. One asked about my craziest Uber driver moment, so I shared one of my favorites. Then she jumped in with her own wildest ride as a passenger. We were all laughing, wide awake in that strange, almost magical middle-of-the-night energy, miles rolling by under the tires.

Somewhere in the middle of the ride, I mentioned the book I’m working on and asked if I could share her story. She lit up, agreed enthusiastically, and pulled up my brand-new website right there in the car. She said she’d write out her story herself and submit it for me to share. By the time I dropped them off, they were thanking me like I’d done them a favor — telling me they were officially three new fans who couldn’t wait for the book.

Driving folks around is how I pay the bills. But moments like this? They’re one really good reminder of why the long hours are worth it.

I’ve always believed there’s a kind of grace in the ordinary — and late-night rides like that prove it to me over and over again.

What about you? Have you ever had a late-night conversation that stuck with you? Or a ride where the stories just kept flowing? I’d love to hear your experiences. Feel free to share in the comments or send me a message.

Want to know what other stories make it into the book? Ride along here and I’ll send them straight to your inbox!