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Edgar… Old Age Isn’t for Sissies!
Yesterday, before making a quick stop at the Publix grocery store in downtown Fort Myers, I noticed an older gentleman sitting in a wheelchair surrounded by bags of groceries. I stopped and asked if he was all right. He shook his head and said he had been waiting more than two hours for a cab that never arrived. I told him I was an Uber driver and would be happy to take him home. He agreed right away, and I helped load his groceries and wheelchair as he carefully made his way
Caw-Tep… Soaring Eagle!
When the name JONNY popped up on my Uber app, I thought it was just another creative spelling. But soon I would discover there was much more to the story. “Actually,” he said with a grin, “my real name is Jonathan.” That would have been interesting enough—but then he shared something even more surprising. “My actual name… the name on my birth certificate is CAW–TEP.” And that’s when I realized he was definitely a candidate for the Ubernamez website! Caw–Tep was born into the
Dennisse… A Common Name with an Uncommon Story!
As the father of a large family, I felt an immediate emotional connection with my Uber passenger, Dennisse. I picked her up outside Golisano Children’s Hospital , where she had been visiting her newborn daughter. The baby was born premature and weighed only two pounds, so she still needed special medical care. Because Dennisse had undergone a C-section, she was still recovering and was clearly uncomfortable as she carefully got into the car. As you might imagine, her uniquely
Guerreline… Gentle Warrior
Sometimes you meet someone and instantly feel like you’ve discovered a hidden treasure. That’s how I felt when I met a woman named Guerreline. At first, she was hesitant to let me share her story on the Uber Namez website, but as we talked, we found ourselves deep in meaningful conversation. By the end of the ride, I realized her life journey was too powerful not to tell and she cheerfully accepted my invitation to the website. Guerreline was born in Haiti as the fifth of ten
Jineth… God is Gracious!
Jineth was born and raised in Venezuela, but her life changed when her family came to the United States as political refugees. Leaving her home country was not easy, yet Jineth carried with her a quiet strength and hope for a better future. She spent her high school years in New Jersey, surrounded by a new culture, new customs, and a language she did not yet understand. Learning English was one of her biggest challenges. Her ESL classes focused mostly on reading books, which
Jakyla… Future So Bright!
This past week, I picked up an enthusiastic passenger named Jakyla, and from the moment she stepped into the car, her positive energy filled the space. Her name has a special story—she was named after actress Kyla Pratt, the voice of Penny Proud from Disney’s The Proud Family. It felt fitting, because Jakyla carried the same confidence and warmth as the character who inspired her name. In high school, Jakyla was a talented athlete. She ran track, played basketball, and stayed
Tishawn… Diligent and Faithful Provider
Recently while driving Uber, I met an enthusiastic and joyful young man named Tishawn. He is from the Bahamas and comes to the United States for three or four months each year to work and earn money for his family. While he’s here, he works in construction, doing tough jobs that require strength, patience, and focus. Even though he has a very young-looking face, Tishawn is older than most people expect and he actually has a nine year old son. Back home in the Bahamas, Tishawn
Mekhi… Door to Door Determination
On a recent fternoon, a traveling salesman came by my house to sell a home security system. I wasn’t really interested in buying anything, but his name immediately caught my attention. His name was Mekhi (Ma-kie) and I learned that he was named after the renowned actor, Mekhi Phifer… a favorite of his mother! His unique name has Hebrew roots and means “Who is like the Lord.” The name carries connotations of faith, strength, and spiritual connection, which felt fitting because
Jacquasia… Blessed!
When an Uber request popped up with the name Quasia, it immediately caught my attention. Names often carry stories, and this one certainly did. I soon learned that her full name is Jacquasia, and she is the twin sister of an older brother named Jacquez. She was born right in Lee County, Florida, but later moved with her mother to southern Alabama, not far from the Florida state line. There, she grew up and graduated from high school before deciding to move back to Southwest F
Oualid… a self described eccentric!
On New Year’s Day I picked up a passenger whose name itself felt like a story waiting to be told. Oualid—pronounced Wah-leed—was visiting from Portland, Maine. He was here to escape the cold and get his “sun fix” here in the sunshine state! As you might expect, his name immediately caught my attention. I had no idea how it would be pronounced. Though unfamiliar to my ears, it is apparently a more common name in Muslim cultures but is often spelled “Walid”. Oualid was born and
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