The Singing Enterprise Rent-A-Car Driver

I am a patient and respectful person.  I mind my own business and don't care to be the center of attention for longer than just a few minutes at a time.  Not only does being the center of attention make me feel slightly uncomfortable, I don't think I necessarily even have the ability to make myself the center of attention in a way that would be entertaining.

Now, if I really wanted to, I could do something like lightly tap the table in the middle of a meeting at work and gradually make each tap louder and louder.  I would keep a straight face the entire time and continue tapping for, say, 2 minutes.  Turn your microwave timer to 2 minutes and imagine a person tapping for the duration.  

Your Microwave

Imagine a low-key group meeting of 6 to 8 people to plan out the week ahead with projector display and all.  The conversations are not humorous in any way - strictly business - and someone starts with this tapping noise.  Eventually, the group would all stop talking and look at the person.  A good leader would probably tell them to stop after 15 seconds.  This person is going to tap for 1 minute and 45 seconds longer, though.  The situation could go any number of ways from here, but needless to say they would become the center of attention.


I could do this if I wanted to, but I am not interested in the idea at all. 

Since I'm usually at least actively listening when part of a group, however, I find it interesting when I see that a person is capable of holding the group's attention and leading an entertaining discussion.  I also find it interesting when the guy who drives the Enterprise Rent-A-Car airport shuttle at Hobby Airport greets me on my way to the van by saying "Hello sir!," and after I respond, follows up with "I didn't mean to scare you - I've got a loud voice, I'm a singer!"  To this, I said "Heh! Heh! Very good!," and got into the van.  He didn't scare me and I didn't find his voice particularly loud.

 

Typical Mid-Size Rental Car


   When a person reveals something like this about themselves in a first introduction, I instinctively know that they're fishing for a conversation - which is fine - but I typically will not say anything that may lead to further talking because I am not a good small-talker.  This sort of thing happens on elevators frequently.

There was an older man in the van with me, who I would later find out was "at Anderson's to get some tests done," whatver that means. He was not a stylish man.  He had a comb-over, polo shirt, jeans, and as I could see as he sat cross-legged, ankle socks with old, dirty, white tennis shoes.  I would guess he was in his late 50's.  Not turning our heads so as to avoid movement which the other might see, our eyes shifted to get a look at each other and quickly darted away when eye contact was made.  What if you actually didn't look away?  You always look away.  If not, you're a crazy person.

The van pulled away and the driver asked how we were doing, to which I replied with the standard "Good!" all the way from the back, and couldn't hear if my traveling companion responded at all.  There was a brief silence.  The driver then went into a full-on singing of The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire).  His voice boomed, was perfectly in tune, and even had a strong vibrato.  This man could really sing.

Accomplished Singer

My immediate reaction to this was the same as when I'm eating out at a restaurant and the table next to me has a birthday - you know, when the entire wait staff comes out and sings some loud variation of happy birthday, then leaves - I tensed up, stopped what I was doing, and tried my best to look as if nothing different was going on.  I thought, "Ok, when he stops what do I do?  Clap?  Cheer? What is this older man going to do?"  Looking his way, I noticed his facial expression was unchanged.  Professional.  The driver came to a finish and I had already decided to say "Very good!" yet again which ended up being timed perfectly with a loud voice coming in over his radio, so I don't think he heard me.  My traveling companion remained silent.

Unphased by the lack applause, he picked right up with another verse and performed it just as perfectly as the first. 

We arrived at the terminal and I gave him a quick love pat on the shoulder as I got off, saying "Great job man!" with as much enthusiasm as I could muster. 

I don't like being the center of attention and I will never sing to a room or car full of strangers out in public.  This guy likes to sing and did exactly that with just two people on board.  Congratulations, Singing Enterprise Rent-A-Car driver, you have some serious guts.