I Am Not Mr Brower

Over 150 hrs of training, finger prints and background checks, personalty testing, a physical, drug test, 3 or 4 written motor vehicle tests, waiting in lines for hours at The Dept Of Motor Vehicles, and a stressful skills and driving test with a horrible, rude, motor vehicle inspector, and after all this, I received my Commercial Drivers Licence with Air Brakes, School Bus, and Passenger Endorsements.

I Am A School Bus Driver and proud to say, I work with, and for some really good people and "I love my job!"

Some misguided people hear School Bus Driver and think, Meaningless Job, or Couldn't you find a "REAL" job?

I drive a vehicle that is 37 feet long and 38000 lbs and everyday I drive this vehicle along the most  narrow, winding sometimes dark, rain slick, icy, or snow covered roads in town with the most precious, sacred  passengers. Children!

After I was laid off along with a few hundred other coworkers, I decided I really needed a job that at the end of the day, My Day Mattered, that in some small way my day was important to someone.

After a recent snow event that the National Weather Service said would not amount to any accumulation, I found myself driving my Elementary Kids home in some horrible horrible conditions and was greeted at each stop by understandably very concerned parents. Some of these parents thanked me for bringing their children home safely, and  it was a note that followed that told me I found my place.

In part it went,
Many thanks for getting Spencer and Grace home safely during the storm.
We know you must have been very calm because the kids thought nothing of the ride home.

The idea that someone would be so considerate to take the time to write a thank you note for doing my job told me, "This is it, this is the job for me.

It is hard to put into words this past Friday, the last day before the Christmas break. I received from some parents and kids some unexpected treasures and moments. Like the fresh baked breads and jam, cookies, the peanut brittle along with a family photo Christmas card that you send to people you consider friends and family.

I once mentioned on the bus that i love root beer and Grace and Spencer along with a Christmas card they both signed gave me 2 bottles of root beer. That was the best rootbeer ever and will save one of the bottles to put on my shelf.

The homemade letter and M&Ms I received from Knox.

Thanks for driving miles and miles with me to school.
Love Knox

I made some great M&M pancakes.

It was Annie a forth grader who after the snow storm said to me, "Steve You Rock" (I looked that up and it is like being Far-Out and Groovy at the same time.) it was Annie that made my eyes water up a bit.

Parents and kids were wishing me a happy holiday and presenting me with some really awesome delicacies when Annie went into her lunch and pulled out 3 Holiday cookies in a zip lock bag and gave them to me. That huge gesture on her part melted me.

After 40 years or so, I remember my School Bus driver. But what I remember is that Mr Brower was a very mean person that at any time at any location if he didn't like you or something you did or said, he would pull the bus over and make you walk to school. I ended up walking alot!
I will never be a mean old Mr Brower.

Someone once said. "Every child's day has the ability to be made or broken based on every adult they come in contact with".

These kids make my day and I hope I do the same for them. I am a School Bus Driver and I love my job.