Rideshare client and ptsd

I had a rideshare. Liner who told me about her daughter who had been in the military overseas during the war. She said there was an incident where two of her daughter’s comrades jumped out of a plane and their parachutes never opened, and after that her daughter really changed. She said it led to a lot of PTSD and a sadness that kind of stayed with her.

And I told her, yeah, I understand that more than people think. I went back to something I said earlier about my father, how I would describe him as “angrier than shit,” like he was carrying that military weight in him all the time and it would just come out in different ways. And she said, “yeah, that military experience, it affects the whole family,” not just the person who went through it.

I also told her about another passenger I had picked up before who said she actually received benefits because of PTSD from both of her parents being in the military, so it really runs through families in a way people don’t always talk about.

Then she shifted back to her daughter and told me she’s actually doing well now—living in Washington, running her own hair salons, and even getting ready to have her business advertised on a billboard. And I said, “that must be a proud moment for you.” And she was like, “yeah, it is, but I wish she was here. I don’t like the idea of my grandkids growing up without seeing their grandma.”

They had gone through about 10 years where they didn’t talk, mostly because her daughter had trouble opening up emotionally, but she said they’re on good terms now and she’s really happy about that.

And I told her, yeah, that’s really what matters, just being able to talk again and have that connection in the present.

I think moments like that are why I like these rides. People end up sharing parts of their lives they probably don’t say out loud that often, and for a short time, you’re just there listening. Sometimes that’s enough.