General Discussion

berniesandersmittens

(13,079 posts) Fri Dec 5, 2025, 03:52 PM Dec 5

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I got lost in Houston and had a few amazing experiences [View all]

For context, I live in a VERY rural area about 10 hours away. I don't get to travel much, but a few friends graciously brought me along on a museum adventure this week.

On Tuesday I had a panic attack at the National Museum Of Science and told my friends I was gonna go for a short walk and call an Uber back to our motel.

I do not put apps on my phone. I got a bit lost a few blocks down and asked a stranger walking by for directions. He said "just look up Google maps".

I told him I didn't have that, so he looked it up on his phone and pointed me in the right direction.

Eventually, the sidewalk ran out at an interstate. I was completely disoriented in a strange city. I looked up Uber and.. you cannot call them directly. You have to have an app.

I walked back to a convenience store and the lady working there is an angel. She used her account to call me a ride. (We are now texting friends and I hope we stay in touch,) She saved me.

Uber driver was so nice and we had a great conversation. I got into the motel lobby and SHIT I had left my phone in his car!

The front desk clerk (who I had made friends with) called my phone and the driver answered it, and brought it back.

YAY!

So many other things happened that I will attempt to share later.

I got back home today and called the motel to tell the front desk how great they were. The lady who answered said "oh, you're the lady that brought me a PB and j!" (I overheard her one day that she was hungry, so I made her a sandwich from our stash in our room)

I got a call back from their boss and he said the front desk crew were going to get a raise!!!

Just wanted to share a little bit of kindness and hope in these dark times. There are a lot of good people in this world. Pass it on and take it in. I know I needed it!

87 replies

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Highlight:

I got lost in Houston and had a few amazing experiences [View all] berniesandersmittens Dec 5 OP

Thanks for sharing an upbeat story! PatSeg Dec 5 #1

One of the most profound week of my life berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #3

Seriously? PatSeg Dec 5 #7

Freaked me out. berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #12

The last time I walked into a taco bell, slightlv Dec 5 #35

I don't like it berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #39

I barely use my smartphone at all PatSeg Dec 5 #52

Our phones are gods. pandr32 Dec 6 #77

Yes, they have become an addiction PatSeg Dec 6 #79

With current updates I've had to endure, slightlv Dec 6 #84

Good for you! PatSeg Dec 6 #86

Probably the latter. soldierant Dec 5 #66

Well, if I shopped at a store PatSeg Dec 5 #51

One of the immersive art museums I went to had lockers to put your stuff in berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #55

Okay, this is all really giving me the creeps PatSeg Dec 5 #67

I actually saw a robot in Walmart here in SW Florida markodochartaigh Dec 6 #75

Sounds like an experiment that didn't PatSeg Dec 6 #80

There's a security camera across the street from me LisaM Dec 5 #21

The group my driver said he belonged to was Katie or Kadie I think berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #27

That's insane! PatSeg Dec 5 #53

when I was in the military I did a TDY to Houston Skittles Dec 5 #2

Hello fellow wanderer! berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #6

haha nice to know Houston hasn't lost its charm! Skittles Dec 5 #9

Especially the Uber drivers berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #13

I think Uber folk in general have to be very hardy indeed Skittles Dec 5 #20

Not only that, but they're what... 6, 8 lanes each?! slightlv Dec 5 #36

heh Skittles Dec 5 #38

I visited a friend at his house and from his Ilsa Dec 6 #72

At the same time Houston is one of the friendliest and one of the meanest cities... pecosbob Dec 5 #4

you should have seen the look on their faces... berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #8

Depends on what part of Ozarks ... JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 5 #18

One of my Uber drivers went to LSU and kept up with the SEC berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #23

Wait! In 1994, Clinton was President. biophile Dec 5 #42

I was off by two years berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #43

I hear that! At my age, the years - heck, even decades are running together! biophile Dec 5 #68

ELECTED in 1992. He was inaugurated in '93 NM Grins Dec 6 #73

From a fellow person of the Ozarks (Lebanon MO, Bennett Spring, etc.), you did good!!! SWBTATTReg Dec 5 #32

Thanks! berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #40

Ozarks enid602 Dec 5 #59

There are some truly breathtaking places near me berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #60

This made me smile fujiyamasan Dec 5 #5

I think good people will always find other good people berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #10

Thanks for sharing awesomerwb1 Dec 5 #11

Very welcome! berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #15

Glad you had an, eventually, positive experience tonkatoy8888 Dec 5 #14

I didn't see many homeless folks to be honest berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #17

I've heard of the Bissonnet Track. Susan Calvin Dec 5 #22

Houston has done a good job re homeless LtTx Dec 6 #76

+1. It is the largest U.S. city without zoning laws dalton99a Dec 6 #78

It's nuts, isn't it? Susan Calvin Dec 6 #81

Yep. People wanting to buy a house need to make sure there is a good buffer zone dalton99a Dec 6 #82

Houston is a pretty nice city in quite a few ways. Susan Calvin Dec 5 #16

I had tried to venture from the Museum Of Science toward Bell St berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #19

Seems like there's always lots of construction going on pretty much everywhere. Susan Calvin Dec 5 #24

I just found out the girl at the station got fired for helping me! berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #41

Oh my gosh, that sucks. Susan Calvin Dec 5 #56

Gonna try to get more information from her berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #57

If you're into mid-century modern houses, Susan Calvin Dec 5 #25

Thanks so much for sharing this with us Grim Chieftain Dec 5 #26

Glad to pass it on! berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #30

Maps, calls and ride apps are all key backups nowadays IbogaProject Dec 5 #28

I have a smart phone but no additional apps berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #45

thanks for sharing . good people are still out there . AllaN01Bear Dec 5 #29

Yep! berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #47

Spent an overnight in Houston on the way to catch a cruise ship in Galveston.. Permanut Dec 5 #31

Do you remember CB radios? slightlv Dec 5 #37

I do remember- never had one.. Permanut Dec 5 #44

hehe., i did cb in the 80s and 90s ./:) one time dxed into colorado from tic toc base . AllaN01Bear Dec 5 #54

Once, just outside OKC on I35N, where they're always doing roadwork, my manx cat escaped from the car. slightlv Dec 6 #85

That was so great. I have one too.. ananda Dec 5 #33

It's instant panic to lose your phone! berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #48

Dayum... that's for sure. ananda Dec 5 #65

great story.. all's well that ends well! mountain grammy Dec 5 #34

It was a beautiful city berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #49

I am going to Houston and San Antonio in January. Initech Dec 5 #46

Sweet berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #50

Thank you for this blogslug Dec 5 #58

Wonderful! 🙂 nt Raine Dec 5 #61

Glad to hear random strangers are still kind to each other IronLionZion Dec 5 #62

I didn't see one taxi the whole time I was there berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #63

You can call a taxi's phone number to come get you IronLionZion Dec 5 #64

Aww.. What a Sweet emotional adventure Cha Dec 5 #69

So glad you had helpful people while you had difficulties! And... electric_blue68 Dec 5 #70

Thank you for sharing your experiences! HeartsCanHope Dec 5 #71

Next time walk over to the reflecting pool and Japanese garden lostnfound Dec 6 #74

You met an entire chorus of earth angels! MLAA Dec 6 #83

Both of my daughters who were brought up there but live other places now still love Houston. efhmc Dec 6 #87