The Big Yellow Bus

    My children have had the wonderful opportunity this year to experience for their first time in their lives...to finally get a chance to in ride in one of those BIG YELLOW PUBLIC school buses!  For years they wondered what it would be like to take a ride in one of "those beautiful, shining, golden school buses." Oh, how they dreamed of how life would be so much more liberating if only they could gain access through the accordian like door!
   
   Much to their surprise, sadly, their private school inwhich I would drive them daily,was forced to shut down.  Their dream of riding a yellow bus was about to become a reality. The night before the first day of school, we rehearsed the bus drill.  After school, they were to go the bus line, get on correct bus, and I would be waiting at their bus stop.

The Beautiful Views at "The Bus Stop!"

 
    I waited that first day at their bus stop wondering how their first day of public school went, but more so, how their first bus ride went.  Finally the bus arrived and the driver turned out to be the same driver who drove this route 20 years ago for my youngest sister.  Relief set into to my heart.  I will call the bus driver, Sally for privacy sake. Sally if you ask me, must have a heart full of gold to transport wiggly 5 year olds to hormone enraged teenagers for twenty years! AMAZING!  It takes a certain breed of character-a true hero in society.

    My children get off the bus each day with some of the funniest stories.  Sally loves her children that she transports and runs a tight ship to prove it!  She possesses a wonderful sense of humor which I know helps her with her sanity -especially in this type of work! 

    Sally prohibits baths taken with stinky, smelly, glittery goo-goo lotions on the bus.  If Sally smells a lotion bath that has taken place, the perpetrator must place their hands outside of the window for the remainder of her ride. My daughter learned this quickly.  After slathering some of that smelly stuff on-enough to make your head fall on a table, Sally got a whiff.  "Excuse me," came over the intercom.  "What is that smell?"  Quickly Olivia's friend explained Sally's rules and instructed Olivia to sit on her hands to hid the smell immediately!

   Sally also discourages all Divas and future American Idols from showcasing their talents on her bus.  Especially when they can't hear  their crooning with their personal earbuds on.  However, one day, my son discovered that Sally herself loved to sing.  It was a special day just the two of them.  He was the only one left on the route.  They began to sing, "Take Me Out To The Ball Game."  Oh how my son's heart soared with love for Sally.  He had found another side of his bus driver!  The next day with great anticipation, in the middle of the bus route, my son stood up and belted, "Sing it with me Sally, "Take me out ....    oops.

    I know my children have learned that to some it probably is "just a school bus."  But they have found on Sally's bus that once you open the doors, you are entering a world of its own- a "separate family" away from home, away from school, where their bus driver protects her kids like a mama bear protects  her cubs.  She talks with them and makes them laugh but most importantly, she listens to the day they had a school.  Sally is one amazing lady in our house, their isnt a day that goes by that a kind word isn't spoken on her behalf.  My children are blessed.