The Whole World's Going to Hell and I'm Driving the Bus

Sometimes I have wondered why I drive a school bus. Barfing, sassy, disobiedent, bad kids can drive you insane not to mention those moms and dads who think their little Johnny can do no wrong and that I am just mean and picking on him. Bad roads, be it snow, mud, fog, animals that have death wishes are all part and parcel of this job. Making sure little Billy isn't forgotten at the school, napping teachers on field trips or leaving some kid behind after the teacher has done attendance and I've gotten the "let's go". Teachers and normal people all say "I could never do your job!" So why do I do it?

Some of my fondest memories come from doing this job. I'll never forget one morning I was kind of daydreaming and missed my turn in town to go to the high school and had to do a little detour. Some of my younger kids were quizzing me as to why we were going this way and I said "We are taking the Scenic Tour to school." They were all satisfied with the answer and not much more was said. The next morning somebody piped up and asked if we were going to take the "Seniors Tour" again. I thought that was a very suitable name for what I did as I felt like I must be getting old because I missed my turn. How true a statement!

One afternoon a very adorable Grade 1 girl named Sidney was standing beside my seat visiting with me. She leaned her head on my shoulder and said "Mrs. Gail (she was the only one who ever call me this) Mrs. Gail, you smell." Worrying that I had an odour problem, I asked her if it was a good smell or a bad smell. She replied "Oh its a good smell. You smell like a mommy." How can you beat that for one of the greatest compliments I have ever received.

Those are just two of the reasons I drive my school bus and well as the 26 or so other great reasons that I drive that sit behind me every day.