Natalie Whatley

Whew!  We survived the first week of school. While I’m an old hand at sending kids back to school, I’m not even close to acquiring the coping skills necessary for the job. Braving the traffic and woefully inadequate parking at the elementary campus comes close to sending me over the edge. And, the volumes of paperwork that must be completed in one evening cause me to consider throwing myself off a cliff. Last Monday, with eyes crossed and hands curled in arthritic fashion, I asked out loud how many more times I’d have to write my name, address, phone number and emergency contact information. With a sly grin, my oldest took great delight in slapping his pile onto the kitchen table.

As I convalesced after the brutal first day of my three children needing to be in three separate places – two of them at roughly the same time – I realized there’s a very important group of individuals overlooked in all the hoopla surrounding the back-to-school mania: bus drivers. I’m a head-strong, can-do kind of girl, but I couldn’t handle that job on my best day.

I have fond memories of a couple of the ladies who drove me to school as a child. With seeming ease, they navigated the streets and somehow blocked out the mass of chattering, wiggly chaos behind them. I can barely drive with my own three children, who ride under threat of bodily harm for engaging in any funny business that would distract me. Some drivers have 25 times that number of passengers, and still deliver their cargo with a smile. I don’t know how they do it.

Ms. Rucker was the first delivering me to school via bus. She mastered the art of being firm with just enough sweetness thrown in that none of us wanted to disappoint her. When someone decided to act a fool, she gave a look in her mirror that negated any need for her to speak. Then there was Ms. Leatherwood, whose first words, “All right troops, listen up!” grabbed our attention. We were told exactly how things were going to be and that deviations were unacceptable.  I secretly liked her because I felt safe under her watch.

It’s tradition in the Whatley household for the children to be personally chauffeured to the assigned school and walked in the first day. The older two no longer allow the walking-in part, but still expect a ride…provided I promptly leave and refrain from blowing the horn and kisses as I drive away. After that, it’s the yellow limousine.

We’ve been blessed over the years with some awesome drivers. Mrs. Becky Shipp, known for dropping off binders on her way home because a certain young lady’s socializing took priority over the location of her homework, tops the list. She changed routes this year. I’m only forgiving her because she became a beloved member of our family. We’re supposed to forgive family, right?

Some much-deserved praise also goes to the support staff and mechanics laboring behind the scenes to ensure thousands of students arrive at the proper destinations. For various reasons, I made at least six phone calls to GCCISD Transportation this week. I got a pleasant, helpful person each time.    

To all past and present school transportation men and women: Thanks for transporting our future.

© 2008 Natalie Whatley

Tags: back to school, bus drivers