The Art of Listening

How well do you listen?  I’m asking myself that question, not necessarily you.  But, hey, if the question fits…

Seriously.

I’m wondering how well I listen.

The other day, I had a call from a professional friend who wanted to “catch up.”

I think he really wanted me to catch up on all that had happened with him.

We met in a restaurant,  greeted each other, and sat down. He asked me one question about my family and me.

And in the middle of my first sentence to answer him (and no, it wasn’t a run-on sentence!), he took off about something that had happened in his family.

And he never shut down.

Never. Until it was time to go to our next appointments.

I was listening to him, nodding my head, and waiting to see if he needed help, advice, or what.

Nope.

Nothing.

I think he just needed to talk.

So, I let him.

Talk.

I listened.

I had nothing to say, no advice, but that’s good, because he didn’t ask for any.  I think he just needed to debrief.

I’m good with that.

It’s a hard oilfield we work in.

Lord, help me to be a good listener, and a good friend. Give me ears to hear.

It's A Small World, After All

You know what I love about the oilfield?

The thing I love the very most?

The fact that you can meet someone for the very first time, and within minutes, find out that you have about twenty mutual friends.

And those mutual friends are good friends, that both of you have known all your lives.

And still, you’ve never met each other, and pretty much, have lived in other states most of your lives.

Talk about 6 degrees from Kevin Bacon.

It’s a small world out there.

And we’re all connected.  And what we do, matters.  

It really does.

Think about that as you go through your day today, wherever you are, and whatever you do.

What you do matters.  So go love on somebody today, will ya?

Sunset at Seminole, Texas - Pumping Unit - Photo by Janie Snelson

Uber-ing. That Is A Verb, Right?

Flying the friendly skies this week.  My compadres are in various states of rest…one is sleeping, one is playing Candy Crush.

I decided I would use the time to write a bit.

Because I know that you’ve been waiting for yet another blog post.

I know you lose sleep at night, waiting on me.

Right?

No?

Darn.  Okay, let me keep my illusions of grandeur for a minute or two, okay?

Okay, minute’s up, and I’m back to reality.

 We have been Ubering quite a bit lately.

In Spokane a couple of weeks ago, I think we Ubered (is that a verb?) something like 12 times.

And the grand total was STILL cheaper than a rental car for a week.

I really like it, for the most part.  But I really, really like people.  I like finding out what makes them tick.  And why they’re doing Uber.  And if they’re doing Uber for a full-time job.  If they have kids.  I want to know the entire drill.

And it’s so cool to me!

In my albeit limited experience, I have found:

Most Uber drivers with family want to set their own schedules. They want to be able to be with their families from this hour to that hour, every single day.

Most single night time Uber drivers are men.  I believe that’s because it’s safer.  And they might not be too worried.  And before an Uber driver can pick someone up, their credit card has to be on file with the company, etc.

The single lady night time Uber drivers pick their times, and the ones that we have had final their rides prior to 11 p.m.  And I don’t blame them.  Crazy stuff can happen after that hour, and I wouldn’t want to be party to it.

Not at all.

Anyway, hats off to the Uber Drivers we have used thus far. 

Job well done.  Now if we could just tip via the app.

Fred Ex was our Uber Driver today.  Love it.

And give 5 stars, as your app would say.