Tis the Season

On days like today when the weather is 20 degrees and as I drive my frozen Twinkie down the road. The trees are frosty and the mornings are still dark. I love that some residents leave their holiday lights on all night so that I have the pleasure to enjoy them on my way to pick my students up. It is so peaceful and relaxing. ...then the kids get on the bus. 

The students are all bundled up so much they look like big puffy stuffed animals. Like today, there was this first grader who was late for the bus. He was running as fast as his little 2 foot long legs could move in his big winter coat, heavy back pack and a crocodile  looking hat ( see picture)  on his head that was 2 sizes to big. The hat was so big it was falling down over his eyes resting on his nose. As he got to my service door his stuffed the remainder for his breakfast that was in his hand into his mouth which made his checks puff out and he was unable to close his mouth all the way. He then grabbed the rail and raised his leg up as far as he could to make the step and got on the bus. All I could do is chuckle...it was so cute and funny! 

Then there are the high schoolers, that don’t wear coats or anything to keep them warm. They are standing out there in the 20 degree weather in shorts and t-shirts. I just don't get it. They even complain how cold they are. I frequently respond  to them with “ you know they make these things called coats, that you put over your body to keep you warm.” Of course they just give me that look like Duh! I even had a high school student ask me early in the year if I could make my bus “drift”. Apparently they have been watching the movie  “Fast and Furious”. I explained to this student that a bus is not made to do that. Yet on the days that roads are frosty and icy like today, I do have a tendency to slide around a corner or two. Which I have to  be careful not to hit a light pole or tree on these narrow suburb streets. So I guess today the bus did “drift” at little. 

Over the last ten years the holidays have changed for me as a bus driver. I remember when I would wear Christmas clothes, Santa hats or Reindeer horns throughout the month. I would even give all the students mini candy canes on the last day of school before Holiday break. Then there was the holiday music that I would have play on the radio the whole month of December. Yes, things have changed in the last ten years. I have found that since the district and everyone else have become “respectful to others culture and beliefs” I have had to change the way I can express my holiday spirit. I feel that since I have to be careful not to offend the students, parents and other drivers, I have lost my freedom of mine own expression. It used to be fun and joyful but now it has been about everyone else's feelings. Well, what about mine? I do enjoy our transportation holiday dinner and gift giving that we still do if people want to partake. 

I look forward to these last days before the holiday winter break because I get cards and gifts from some of my students. I wish I had a sticker on my bus that says, “ I drive for Starbucks gift cards” :)  This is one of the times of year that I know that the families and students really do appreciate all I do. 

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas Everyone! 

How it Happened

As my blog gets more notice amongst my coworkers, friends and the school bus community.  There is one question that gets asked the most, “ Why did you become a bus driver?”. Here is that story....

A little over ten years ago I was going through a divorce. I was new to this city and needed a job. I was now a single mom of two young children 4 and 8. So I needed a job where I didn’t need a lot

 of childcare and the flexibility where I could be active in my children's’ school lives. I started out by driving around town and putting in applications everywhere and anywhere. In fact, I was puling out of the Pepsi distribution center here in our area when I looked across the street and saw a sign that read “ Drivers Needed” on the front gate of the school bus lot. I sat there for a minute and thought about it. I had worked with children when I was a nanny for 3 years and ran a daycare center for a year. Also I come from a long line of truck drivers. Both my grandfathers where truck drivers and so are a few of my uncles. So for me it was like “ I can do this!” so I drove over and went it. They asked me a few questions and then sent me over the main office to fill out an application, back then they didn’t have online applications :) I then waited and about a week later when they called for an interview. When I went to the interview I didn’t realize that the whole office staff was going to be there. So the supervise of transportation, the Head Driver trainer & special needs coordinator, the Office secretary, payroll/dispatcher and finally the Fleet/ Shop supervisor all in this tiny room interviewing me. What I remember most about that meeting was that the two ladies did most of the asking of questions and the Fleet supervisor doodled on the paper in front of him...LOL. After the intern view process was over I then had to go take the drug testing and start 6 to 8 weeks of Bus Driver Bootcamp! Ok it is really just training but it took FOREVER!  Because I wasn’t just learning how to drive different types of buses on the streets and how to not hit anything. I also had to watch and read as much information about safety, WAC codes, laws on state and federal levels, district policies and union contract. Mind you none of this is paid! So in 6-8 weeks I got my Masters degree in School Bus Driver better known as a CDL ( commercial drivers license).   

I then had to prove to my driver trainer who I would like to add was the state School Bus Rodeo Champion in our state for 6 years! More on what a school bus rodeo will be covered in a different blog. And no there are no clowns and we don’t ride on top for 8 seconds :).  So after proving that I could drive and student mange I was what the office calls, “ Let loose” to start subbing on routes for drivers. So on my very first solo route was a special needs bus. I remember it like yesterday because it was the one and only time I have ever backed into and hit anything in the 10 years that I have driven!  I had dropped off a student at their house and backed out of the driveway and right into a mailbox. I was so scared and flustered when I got back to transportation. I called the owner of the mailbox and her response was “ Don’t worry about it. in fact I should thank you for squishing it. I have this fish mailbox that I have been wanting to put up and my husband wouldn’t let me. And now I can :)”  when I shared this with my boss, we both just laughed!  Because you don’t always get that great of a response from the people in the community. 

I have to say that this has been a great job over the years. It has allowed me to volunteer for my children’s field trips and events. I was able to go back to college and get my Associates Degree. I have been able to work as much or as little as I needed for income. I had the opportunity to take trips for the schools sports teams and other classes to places I would not have had the money or time to go see. I have met some of the most wonderful people and students over this time as a school bus driver. Now I am blogging for a national published magazine " School Transportation News" which will start showing up on their website in January 2012.