I got lost in Houston and had a few amazing experiences

[berniesandersmittens]

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!

[PatSeg]

1. Thanks for sharing an upbeat story!

[berniesandersmittens]

3. One of the most profound week of my life

I also got yelled at by a robot outside the convenience store that shouted loudly "WAARNING, YOU ARE UNDER VIDEO SURVEILLANCE FOR YOUR OROTECTION".

Freaked me out! The Uber driver said he was a member of a group who were fighting these robots downtown.

Dysropia is here, but at the same time I think our common human goodness will survive.

[PatSeg]

7. Seriously?

I don't go out these days so I didn't even know such robots existed. It is starting to feel like we're living in a futuristic sci-fi movie. That's pretty creepy. What is really unnerving is younger people are going to accept all this as normal.

[berniesandersmittens]

12. Freaked me out.

There's also so many places that don't take cash anymore.

My driver told me they had robots at Walmart that would yell at people who took too long getting their stuff in their cars

We gotta fight this. Truly Orwellian. Glad there are people fighting it.

[slightlv]

35. The last time I walked into a taco bell,

I just stood by the "counters" (where the cash register is) and asked does anyone take an order anymore, along with my money? Or is it all by machine? Talk about feeling like I'd walked into a Twilight Zone episode!

I know it's a basic truism that by the time you get to be 70 and beyond, the world has moved on so far without you, there's barely any keeping up... let alone catching up. I spent over 30 years of my life integrated deeply into IT...it's how I made my living, my hobby, my life... but I'm so lost with so much of it now I feel like a Luddite sometimes. I've clicked off services in apps before because they're so hard to understand. And some web pages are getting to be just as bad. Sometimes I wonder if I'm too dumb for all this "smart" stuff, or too smart to dumb myself down enough!

[berniesandersmittens]

39. I don't like it

I called the gas station to compliment the lady who helped be but I also told them the robot was scary. This digital/robot/cashless thing is scary and I do not like it.

[PatSeg]

52. I barely use my smartphone at all

and I refuse to put a bunch of apps on it. I have a PC and a laptop, I don't need that stuff on my phone as well. It seems to me that it could make a person extremely vulnerable, not to mention I really hate watching people glued to their phones, oblivious to the world around them. They have really dumbed down so many people, especially young people.

[pandr32]

77. Our phones are gods.

We are more connected to them than real life.
I am speaking of 'we' in general terms--as a trend.

[PatSeg]

79. Yes, they have become an addiction

I've noticed a number of people are finally trying to break free of that addiction, many of them younger people. That is a hopeful sign I suppose.

[slightlv]

84. With current updates I've had to endure,

the no-doubt imbedded AI has just made the phone harder to use, IMO. I was one of those addicted to it... either reading here or on substack, and had about three games I played constantly. The latter because I was bored... but then the games got boring, substack is still great, but there's a lot of repeat articles, etc., and I've ended up on some days not even having to charge it at the end of the day. Still love my full blown desktop PC!

[PatSeg]

86. Good for you!

That's quite an accomplishment. I prefer my desktop PC as well. Using it is far more consciously intentional, not just a mindless habit.

I remember leaving the house without a phone and it was no big deal. I sometimes would just take a drive to get out of the house when my kids were driving me nuts (or my ex husband when I was married). Now it seems we're attached all the time and there is no escape, not even a short temporary one.

[soldierant]

66. Probably the latter.

[PatSeg]

51. Well, if I shopped at a store

with a robot that yelled at me for taking too long, that would probably be the last time I shopped at that store. I don't think stores can risk losing customers these days - not like you'd catch me shopping at Walmart though.

This is all reminding me of some scenes from Minority Report where Tom Cruise was walking past businesses and the animated signage talked to him as he passed. They could recognize him and knew his name and preferences.

In many respects, I do like advances in technology, but some advances are just intrusive and creepy. The no cash thing is a bit unnerving, as everything someone pays for can be traced. I'd like to believe I still have a little bit of privacy, but guess that's quaint and old-fashion.

[berniesandersmittens]

55. One of the immersive art museums I went to had lockers to put your stuff in

Purse, etc.

It required a credit/debit card! To top it off, they outsourced the scanner company and only the manager (who was not on site at the time,) had a key to open them.

[PatSeg]

67. Okay, this is all really giving me the creeps

In many ways, I'm glad I'm old, as I'm not sure I am equipped to live in the world that is unfolding. I liked it better as fiction in books and movies.

[markodochartaigh]

75. I actually saw a robot in Walmart here in SW Florida

a couple of years ago. Most people just ignored it as it went down aisle by aisle. I tried asking it to find products and it led me to what I asked for, but it was slow. It seemed to understand English and Spanish, but it had no Irish. I saw it for a couple of weeks and then haven't seen it since.

[PatSeg]

80. Sounds like an experiment that didn't

deliver good results. I can imagine all kinds of negative repercussions.

[LisaM]

21. There's a security camera across the street from me

that yells at perceived trespassers all night long. I can't imagine they are all trying to trespass, but it's a locked lot and the electronic shouting is a nuisance (it's right next to a bus stop). Now that it's almost winter I don't hear it and I don't know who to contact to complain.

[berniesandersmittens]

27. The group my driver said he belonged to was Katie or Kadie I think

Didn't get anymore info, but maybe that will help

[PatSeg]

53. That's insane!

Very Orwellian indeed.

[Skittles]

2. when I was in the military I did a TDY to Houston

I was lost and it amazed me how I could be on a regular road and suddenly be on an interstate highway without realizing how I did that - WTF!

I did find the people of Houston pretty cool, though.

Loved your story!

[berniesandersmittens]

6. Hello fellow wanderer!

The sidewalk got a bit grassy and then boom - I interstate!

Sooo grateful for the folks who helped. Truly special and I'll never forget them

[Skittles]

9. haha nice to know Houston hasn't lost its charm!

it is quite a unique city - I think you have to be quite the hardy folk to live there

[berniesandersmittens]

13. Especially the Uber drivers

One night on the way back we had to go by the arena the was having a big NBA game. Absolute chaos! It was like Bangladesh!

The driver was so cool under pressure. I would've just had to leave my car in the road, like "nope, Im outta here"

[Skittles]

20. I think Uber folk in general have to be very hardy indeed

same with the Door Dashers

[slightlv]

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

I drove myself, my mother, and my grandmother to Galveston to spend the day one time. Mom knew (and disapproved) of my smoking... but my grandmother didn't; at least, she didn't say anything. Mom was such a nervous wreck on the highway and I was white knuckling it knowing that whatever lane I decided to drive in would be the wrong one for the exit... and although we were going 70+ people were whipping past my little car. I finally got us turned onto the correct exit ramp and there was a small gas station not far from there. Mom suddenly said "stop here at the gas station!" I didn't argue; I could use the time to get my bearings back.

Anyway, she opened the door and my grandmother did the same. She turned to grandma and said... just wait here, Mom... Sandy and I will be right back. She told me to follow her and bring my purse. When we got into the restroom, she gave me a hug, told me I'd done one hell of a job getting us here, and to please, smoke a cigarette! LOL!

When we got back to the car, Grandma grinned and asked me, Feel better now? I just nodded. Grandma had smoked for 20+ years, I KNOW she knew I smoked, but nobody said a word about it among us. Family dynamics!

[Skittles]

38. heh

your grandmother rocked!

[Ilsa]

72. I visited a friend at his house and from his

backyard you could see a five story office building in the lot behind his house. Have they ever done any zoning in Houston? Because that also affects types of roads.

[pecosbob]

4. At the same time Houston is one of the friendliest and one of the meanest cities...

I hate stroads.

[berniesandersmittens]

8. you should have seen the look on their faces...

When I told them I was from the Ozarks. Hope I represented my home as well as they did in Houston.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

18. Depends on what part of Ozarks ...

... if you tell them you're from Arkansas, you mignt be in for some serious trash talk.

Go Hogs.

[berniesandersmittens]

23. One of my Uber drivers went to LSU and kept up with the SEC

We reminisced about the 1994 Hog championship. A great year! Arkansas had Bill Clinton as governor, the Razorbacks won the NCAA basketball championship, the Cowboys were good, as well as the Chicago Bulls. Tupac and Nirvana were peaking.

It was nice talking to him. We're texting friends now too lol

[biophile]

42. Wait! In 1994, Clinton was President.

Or did you just mean that Arkansas had Clinton as governor (once upon a time) but not necessarily 1994?

[berniesandersmittens]

43. I was off by two years

Clinton was gov then Pres in 92. My aging brain is hanging out for all to see

[biophile]

68. I hear that! At my age, the years - heck, even decades are running together!

[Grins]

73. ELECTED in 1992. He was inaugurated in '93 NM

[SWBTATTReg]

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

You have to admit that your trip had all kinds of things going on, making things interesting!

[berniesandersmittens]

40. Thanks!

I love a good adventure. Although scary, it was definitely interesting!

[enid602]

59. Ozarks

A lot of Houstonians drive up to the Ozarks in summer to escape the bugs, heat and humidity.

[berniesandersmittens]

60. There are some truly breathtaking places near me

We've got plenty of ticks and mosquitoes in the summer too. The creek beds and cave trails in the woods are a good place to cool off. In my younger years I spent many days kayaking the Piney and Buffalo Rivers.

Houston now has a special place in my heart, but my heart will always be here...

[fujiyamasan]

5. This made me smile

It’s easy to get jaded, but there’s a lot of good people in this world!

[berniesandersmittens]

10. I think good people will always find other good people

To be honest, Ive recently had a dark outlook on humanity.

It feels so good to have my faith restored. There's always gonna be darkness in society. It's nice to realize that there's also always gonna be the light

[awesomerwb1]

11. Thanks for sharing

In these trying and suffocating dark times.

[berniesandersmittens]

15. Very welcome!

I know I needed a reminder of our common goodness. I met some great people from all around the world.

[tonkatoy8888]

14. Glad you had an, eventually, positive experience

I worked in Houston for about a year and found it to be the strangest, weirdest, most fucked up place I have ever spent any time in.

I worked downtown at the Grand Opera and rented an apartment in the Montrose neighborhood. I should also mention that I took the bus back and forth.

The things that weirded me out, in no particular order.

The lack of zoning laws. In my neighborhood there were elegant single family homes right next door to a cement plant, another strip of million dollar homes interspersed with apartments that were identical to a Motel-6 that were thrown up during the previous oil boom. And hookers. I've never seen so many street hookers anywhere, and I've worked/lived in Manhattan and in the District in Washington. You had to run a gauntlet of hookers to get in the door of the 7-Eleven on my street.

I moved from DC to Houston and I was taken aback at the number of homeless people and in DC I had to traverse 14th Street on a daily basis.

I can't count the number of people I saw looking out the bus window at 8am who were driving a Mercedes or BMW, dressed in a suit, and drinking a tall-boy on the way to work.

The urban sprawl in hard to comprehend.

On the upside, some really great Tex-Mex and Vietnamese food.

[berniesandersmittens]

17. I didn't see many homeless folks to be honest

There were zero public restrooms where I ventured. No taxis and I only saw two buses.

A robot yelled at me when I was waiting outside a convenience store. It was truly dystopian to my rural, untravelled soul.

[Susan Calvin]

22. I've heard of the Bissonnet Track.

https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2023/07/12/bissonnet-track-inside-its-shadowy-history-efforts-aimed-at-curbing-prostitution-sex-trafficking-in-notorious-area/

I was about to say I've never been near it, but I have driven pretty much the length of Dairy Ashford, so I guess I've at least been adjacent.

[LtTx]

76. Houston has done a good job re homeless

Houston. Is not even in the top 20 for homelessness. . DC has a smaller population and many more homeless

usafacts.org/articles/which-cities-in-the-us-have-the-most

[dalton99a]

78. +1. It is the largest U.S. city without zoning laws

https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Weirdest-images-from-Houston-s-lack-of-zoning-laws-9171688.php

[Susan Calvin]

81. It's nuts, isn't it?

Once when I was delivering campaign signs, I saw a house that literally had an oil well in the back yard. I took a picture, but I'm not organized with that so I'm sure I couldn't find it.

[dalton99a]

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

or they'll build a strip club next to your lot

[Susan Calvin]

16. Houston is a pretty nice city in quite a few ways.

It's definitely got character.

If you're ever here again, check out the Sugar Land area. It's mostly fairly well-off suburbia, but it does have some areas that have character in the older parts. As do nearby Richmond and Rosenberg.

Oh, and there are a number of very good small theater companies. The Alley is not all there is, and in my opinion not even the best.

[berniesandersmittens]

19. I had tried to venture from the Museum Of Science toward Bell St

Lots of construction going on. I wish I would've reached out to any DUers in the area for a meet up.

[Susan Calvin]

24. Seems like there's always lots of construction going on pretty much everywhere.

I will say they seem to have fixed the interchange from Northbound 59 to Northbound 610, which at one time was deemed the most congested freeway interchange in the country. Who knows how long it will stay fixed......

[berniesandersmittens]

41. I just found out the girl at the station got fired for helping me!

Evidentially they thought she was helping a homeless person, which the manager forbids.
(I guess they saw it on camera?)

I feel terrible and PISSED! Called the store, no answer. Called corporate and let them know how she saved me and that I was a tourist who got lost.

I'm keeping in touch with her to see if she needs a state ent from me. CRAZY

[Susan Calvin]

56. Oh my gosh, that sucks.

Especially since it wasn't costing them any money and was gaining them a lot of goodwill.

[berniesandersmittens]

57. Gonna try to get more information from her

She did absolutely nothing wrong.

This girl was my angel and I'm going to do what I can to help her.

I'm sure I probably did look homeless and frazzled on camera, I was lost, on foot in a huge city.

Even if I had been a homeless person WTF. I got to witness the very best - and the very worst of society.

[Susan Calvin]

25. If you're into mid-century modern houses,

Houston is crawling with them. I think the biggest concentrations are in the Sharpstown and Meyerland areas. Although in Meyerland I think they tend to get torn down because that's an expensive area of town. Sharpstown kind of sucks, with the upside being that the houses are mostly original.

[Grim Chieftain]

26. Thanks so much for sharing this with us

During these dark, dark times we often forget there is kindness and goodness out there.

[berniesandersmittens]

30. Glad to pass it on!

I hope I run into these folks again.

[IbogaProject]

28. Maps, calls and ride apps are all key backups nowadays

You are still using a button phone?

My suggestion is a phone w a dialpad and apps. I found the following one and it has maps & you can install either uber or lyft (which I prefer) or both.

TIQ mini M5 Smartphone Android 13 Google Play Android Auto

I'd say fine to not using it for banking or mobile pay but there are starting to be things you cant do without a phone with apps. Catching a ride is a big one. Another is many municipalities are going to mobile app based payment.

I support you using it as little as you can but as a backup it is beyond compare. Just keep it charged and leave it turned off until you need it. Try and turn it on at least once a week to have it ready.

Good luck, I am glad you mananaged to find your way back Twentith Century style.

[berniesandersmittens]

45. I have a smart phone but no additional apps

I feel like we've given up privacy for convenience. Seems like the digital age is moving faster than I'm willing to follow.

I'm sure I'll have to join this century eventually but not ready just yet.

[AllaN01Bear]

29. thanks for sharing . good people are still out there .

[berniesandersmittens]

47. Yep!

We gotta find and then stick to each other

[Permanut]

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

Agree with other posters that airport, transportation and hotel people were very friendly.

The scale of things in Texas is apparently different from Oregon though. We asked the desk person at the hotel where the nearest market was, and that we were on foot. "No problem", she said, "it's just down the street".

I think we walked a mile "just down the street", found the market just fine, but always remember that the distances there are in Texas miles.

[slightlv]

37. Do you remember CB radios?

When I was in my 20's and 30's, I'd think nothing of heading out on a late Friday afternoon and head north to Kansas to spend the weekend with the folks. I always had my CB radio on, tho... and never felt afraid to travel as long as it was working. The truck drivers I met along the way were always fantastic!

Anyway, because *everything* in Texas is bigger, my "handle" was the Texas Cricket. (I'm 4'9&quot ... but I figured a cricket in texas had to be huge!

[Permanut]

44. I do remember- never had one..

I don't know if I want one after watching "Joy Ride" "Candy Cane? Are you there, Candy Cane?"

[AllaN01Bear]

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

[slightlv]

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

I was frantic. She luckily sprinted off into the field and not the highway, but I also had a four year old in tow (moving day to another state). So it wasn't like I could just run off and leave her alone in the car. I got on the CB and within minutes had a 6'5" trucker pulled up behind me. This bear of a man went strolling through the field calling "kitty, kitty" until he found Tojo and brought him back to me, safe and sound.

Then, because we were headed in the same direction and he was an empty load, he loaded my car into the back of the truck and drove me all the way to my front door at Mom's. Come to find out, this particular trucker also knew my Mom. So it was old home week. Best of all, I had the little blank manx who howled from hell for 8 straight hours (even while on a sedative) still with me.

I look back now and think how bad things could have gone in today's world under the same situation. But even tho it wasn't long after that the killer on the TX rest stops happened, it still seemed like a different world where people's natures were concerned.

[ananda]

33. That was so great. I have one too..

I lost my phone, and after I located it,
locked it down, and made the noises,
somebody texted me about it and
brought it back.

I love these stories that show the
goodness of people.

[berniesandersmittens]

48. It's instant panic to lose your phone!

I wanna go back to the 90s when we could roam... (posting the hippie sign cause maybe the 90s are the new 60s? Lol)

[ananda]

65. Dayum... that's for sure.

I honestly didn't think I'd get it back.

But Apple has amazing recovery technology
and phone service across all its devices. I
could tell I dropped the phone in the parking
lot where I live.

Someone found it there and picked it up.
Then after I locked it, they could see my
number to text when they tried to open the
phone.

Then they could text me on my iPad or computer,
from their own phone, which is what they did,
and it all worked out because I have texting
apps on both my iPad and my computer.

[mountain grammy]

34. great story.. all's well that ends well!

I live south of Houston, Clear Lake City, for 6 years.. 1978-1984

made some good friends there So glad you had a good experience!

[berniesandersmittens]

49. It was a beautiful city

I got to see the bustle of the business sector to the working folks neighborhoods. The working class were so much kinder than the suits.

[Initech]

46. I am going to Houston and San Antonio in January.

I am seeing some old friends of mine from high school in San Antonio and then I plan to do some exploring in both cities.

[berniesandersmittens]

50. Sweet

If you go by the Holiday Inn Express on Bell st, tell the front desk that the lady with the colorful coat said hi!

[blogslug]

58. Thank you for this

❤️ ❤️ ❤️

[Raine]

61. Wonderful! 🙂 nt

[IronLionZion]

62. Glad to hear random strangers are still kind to each other

if smartphone life isn't for you. You should know that taxis and paper maps still exist. It's great to have that with you while traveling.

[berniesandersmittens]

63. I didn't see one taxi the whole time I was there

I saw a few buses, but didn't see any stations.

I will definitely be prepared if I venture out of my cave again. Really had no idea that you couldn't just call for a ride.

Glad that I'm alive to tell the tale. Along the way I wondered if I might get my organs harvested ...then I laughed because if they took my liver they'd be sorely disappointed....(Dark, I know had to take my mind to new places in order not to panic)

[IronLionZion]

64. You can call a taxi's phone number to come get you

or any hotel can call for you. That's what my parents do when they travel.

[Cha]

69. Aww.. What a Sweet emotional adventure

you had in Houston, mittens. 💙

I can relate to the getting lost and the Uber part. I've gotten lost a lot in strange to me places over the years.

And Uber... a Friend put an Uber App on my phone, and I still couldn't get one when I was doing a practice run for when I got to Florida, for my Nephew's wedding. I ended up setting up a Cab pickup where you can actually call and talk to People!!

Mahalo for sharing your getting lost adventure.. it had an Awesomely Great Ending!

[electric_blue68]

70. So glad you had helpful people while you had difficulties! And...

that front desk got a raise.

[HeartsCanHope]

71. Thank you for sharing your experiences!

It's nice to know there are people like these wonderful individuals who helped you get where you needed to go! Looking forward to your update!

[lostnfound]

74. Next time walk over to the reflecting pool and Japanese garden

might soothe the panic, its quite peaceful.
Love that area.

[MLAA]

83. You met an entire chorus of earth angels!

[efhmc]

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

One of them lives in the place very unTexan and to what other folks is Texas (Austin) finds people to be rude and not helpful. I always thought this was due to political differences but it is not. Because in the 20 years I lived in Houston, the wonderful diverse culture and the amazing people were always there. And still are.