The best part of being a bus driver....

Field Trips! Today we sent to a Civil War camp. A preview to what they have planned for the weekend. It was very warm, sunny, but no rain. Had a great time. Next field trip is to a zoo. (Love those too!

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School time

Well there are good things about living in Michigan...the most important is that school doesn't start until after Labor Day!! So while the rest of you are getting up early to get your buses ready, pick up the kids and such....I'm still sleeping in.

Tonight is my first athletic run. Our football team has a scrimmage. Hopefully it won't still be so hot and humid. Our football team only has 15 boys this year, so hopefully the games are still competitive and fun to watch.

Tomorrow morning I have been volunteered to work in the concession stand during a 3 on 3 basketball tourney in town. Monday starts Middle School Volleyball practice. So I'm back in full gear.....whether I like it or not.

Sentimental

I don't know what it is about this time of the year but I always am reminded of my bus driver when I was in school, George.

George was a gruff old man. He had a deep voice, was big, and drove a bus. I couldn't help but be intimated by George. But one day George didn't drive the bus that came to pick me up it was Sally, and then a man who transported his goats on his bus (we were all sure of this because the bus ALWAYS stunk like goats and goat poop). But back to George...he would always wait that extra minute for me to come running down the driveway when I was running late, he would smile while my mom forced me to have my first day of school picture taken buy his bright yellow bus, he was really a great man. I can't for the life of me remember his last name, he was just always George.

Every year at Christmas time he would cheerfully hand out brown paper sacks filled with his own little mini-version of a fruit basket. 1 apple, 1 orange, a nut, those yummy Christmas tree nougaty/minty taffy like things, a Christmas pencil and a mini-candy cane. At the time I remember thinking that it had to be the lamest of Christmas gifts I was going to get. I would rush into the house and eat up the candy, maybe use the pencil and then toss the fruit into my mom's fruit. But now that I am a bus driver and always contemplate what to give my bus kids, I am more appreciative of that sweet gesture. If you figure there were probably 40-50 kids on our bus and the cost and time that had to go into making those gifts, he went way above and beyond what some of the other drivers do.

Two years ago I gave out dollar bills to all my kids with a candy cane attached. When you figure that I have about 40 kids on my bus it's tough to squeeze out that extra $40 at Christmas time. But it was all made worth wile with one phone call. I had just one parent call and tell me that her son was so excited to get that dollar. He knew that he could go to the store and spend it however he wanted. On whatever he wanted. Unfortunately he lost that dollar and his mom had to give up one of her's but I was glad to know that I had made, if even just one, kid's day.

I always debate on giving out the money, and last year we just couldn't swing it. This year we can. I know a dollar doesn't buy much anymore, and the high schoolers probably think I'm lame but I enjoy seeing the smile and cheer on the younger kid's faces when they get that envelope knowing that there is money inside.

So this Christmas remember that it's the little things in life. The extra "Have a good weekend, Johnny" or the simple "How was your day, Suzy?" that means the world to some of these kids. Sadly enough some of the just don't get it at home.

Have a great holiday season, and a very Merry Christmas.

Say What??!!?!?!

*Please note, I have not edited this for content. You may be offended.*

What I heard, what she actually said:

Little Girl talking to another (girl) friend: "You got the ball stuck on your penis"
What she actually said: "You got the ball stuck on your fingers"

Phew!

Bus Route/Seniority question for drivers

I have a question for you bus drivers out there.

How are your routes distributed? For example we have a new driver who just started this year because of a driver that quit...leaving a route open. If no other driver wants the open route, the new guy gets it...right? What if he doesn't? Can a lower seniority driver bump a higher driver out? What if route locations plays into this. The new guy lives in a different route (my route), and thinks to save the school $$ it would be best for him to have my route.

I'm not going to give my route up. I love most of my kids. What would your district do in a situation like this?

Starting to feel ready

I think I am finally getting ready for school to start back up. And we still have 2 1/2 weeks left. Our first day is September 8, and our first athletic trip is this Friday, and even though I am normally the sport trip taker, I'm not taking this one.

Our football team has a scrimmage about 2 1/2 hours away. That will make for an early and long day for our driver.

I have briefly talked my route over with our supervisor and only have 1 new kindergarten. So not much of change for me. Our supervisor had planned on re-retiring on August 28, but was talked in to staying on until January 1st. We are all so glad to have her back. She was a driver and supervisor for many, many years and decided to retire. After some time away the school was able to persuade her to come back.

Our administrators have been promising us a new(er) bus to begin this school year with. Unfortunately I heard from the School Board meeting last night that the school hasn't bought it yet. Bummer. It is a '99 Blue Bird. Sadly this is all our school can afford. We have 2 busses that need to be set out to dry, so hopefully someone gets their act in gear and gets that bus. We need something dependable.

I hope you all had a great summer, and are ready to get back at it (if you haven't already.)

Last Day of School

Hurray!

It's finally here!

On the last day I let the elementary kids sit in the back of the bus and the MS and HS kids have to sit up front. And boy oh boy am I glad I only do it one day! The younger kids think it is the greatest thing that the older kids have to sit up front. But they fight over the back 2 seats. At one time they tried to have 4 kids in one seat...which they know is a no no. They were really quite cute...but I am so greatful that I don't have to see them for 3 months!!

I may not post much over the summer, so have a great vacation.