The willingness factor

Today, I connected two different people with two different carpool possibilities.

My mother, a Roosevelt Democrat, used to say, "Democracy depends on the willingness of its participants." God rest her soul and her soapbox [she had some strong opinions!], mom's wisdom is true about democracy and carpooling.

Carpooling depends on the willingness of its participants. Without participants, there is no carpooling.

MOST -- two-thirds or more -- of carpools are founded by people who already know each other. Carpool connections are also made second-hand, through someone like me, who-knows-someone-who-lives-near-you.

We Americans have a cultural norm of the convenience of driving alone. Overcoming that requires attention, desire and sometimes outside influences.

Willingness is key.

Bette is funny

Bette caught a ride in with me today again and is hoping for a lift home from someone else. Because she's blind, she has few options when commuting from suburb-to-suburb.

I don't mind driving her to work when her regular carpooler is on vacation. Bette gives me a few bucks for gas and more importantly, she lets me set the commuting hours.

And Bette is funny.

Before she gets into my silver Camry, she waits for me to call her name. Once while waiting for a ride, someone pulled up in a grey car. She got into the guy's car and buckled in.

The man asked politely, "Well, hello! Do I know you?"

Since then, Bette waits for confirmation before plunking down.

Bette likes gambling and because of the low lighting at casinos has occasionally sat on someone's lap by mistake.

She says that makes her a lap dancer.

Too bad I have to drive home alone tonight because of a business dinner.