On bus driving

When I drive my school buses, I feel important. Maybe it's because not everyone passes the written or driving test on the first shot, and I did. Maybe it's because it's a 25 passenger, 14 foot tall, 7.5 ton piece of metal that gets priority on the road. Maybe it's because I never rode in a yellow school bus growing up. In fact, the first time I stepped onto one was in Syracuse in 2008 or 2009 I think. I should have documented that better...

Now that the crew season has finished, I find myself pondering...

--You know you drive a bus too much (6 afternoons a week) when you reach for the gear shift in your own car incorrectly (by the wheel instead of by your seat).

--You know you drive a bus too much when you momentarily freak out when the "BEEP BEEP BEEP" reverse drive alarm doesn't go off... until you realize it's because you're in your own car.

--A bus' horn is much more powerful than our Prizm's.

--People tend to cut off buses, which is stupid and dangerous. I honk long and hard at them.

--In emergencies, like when the windshield wipers break and wrap around the driver's seat window during hard thunderstorm rain, other drivers give you lots of space--which is great.

--When the minuscule parking lot (not just number of spots available, but width as well) at the boathouse is so jammed packed with parents' SUVs, and when parents park in NON parking spots (perpendicular to the spaces), you become an EXCELLENT back-into-a-tight-space-parker. And it's just right and on the first try. And just using mirrors.

--Immediately after you drive the bus and get into your own car (say, to go grocery shopping), you feel as though you're driving one of those ultra-low-to-the-ground-sports-cars. Yeah, Prizms!!

Finally,
--You know you're "made it" as a bus driver when other yellow school bus drivers give you "the wave" as you pass each other by.

Bus 10, it's been real. See you next season.