Driving the school bus.

When it comes time to identify my occupation on our tax return, I am tempted now to write School Bus Driver.

I’m not really sure how it started. But over six years ago, when my granddaughter Emma was in the third grade, I began driving her to school every Wednesday morning. From the beginning, I have called this time together “driving the school bus”.

Now she is a Freshman in high school. She actually got her learner’s permit a few days ago, so within a year she will be unleashed on the driving public and able to drive herself to school. But, for now, I can still make the less than 10 minute drive to her house over in McCay’s Mill, wait in her kitchen while Cayce packs the lunch and Emma begins her breakfast (she always finishes it in my “bus”) … then lug her nearly eighty pound backpack out to my bus and make the almost thirty minute drive to Christ Presbyterian Academy on Old Hickory Boulevard.

These bus rides have given us a lot of time alone together, time that we wouldn’t have had otherwise. During those rides: we have tuned in to Phlash Phelps at 60’s on 6 and listened to all the old songs that we sing together…like The Beach Boys and our all time favorite Red Rubber Ball by The Cyrkle; we’ve debated the merits of taking our “short cut”, which we almost always do; we have planned our fantasy purchase of an old barn and old truck to use in our dream of having a picker’s collection; we have discussed her yearly opportunity to get the dog of her choice ( which has yet to happen ); we’ve discussed her favorite teachers, and the goofy ones;  we have reviewed most all of her softball games and practices; she has taught me about Homecoming, Coming Home, various grade level protocols; and, of course, we have laughed at all the crazy grandmother things done by Diane, her Guey. I have few, if any, memories more precious than these.

These times together have been so rewarding that this year I began driving the bus on Tuesday mornings also…taking my other two grandchildren, Colton grade 3, and Camryn grade 1 to their school at College Grove.  Their three dogs (Bear, Hank, and Dolly) always greet me when I pull into the driveway; Jamie brings my riders outside and I get a hug from her.  Colton sits up front with me, while Camry is still required to occupy a back seat. It takes me almost twenty minutes to drive to their home out off 840.  The time to drive from their home to school is only about ten minutes, but that still gives me a chance to find out what is most important to each of them that day and that week. (Today it was Camryn’s field trip and Colton’s flag football scrimmage.)

Most everyone who somehow finds out about my bus driving routine seems to immediately pick up on the huge opportunity this gives me to share in the lives of these precious kids.  I would not trade that time for anything.

But, there is another not so obvious benefit.  I have made it my practice…and I think I have gotten the most joy from consecrating the five minutes before I arrive at their homes and the five minutes after I drop them off at school.  I take the time before reaching their homes to earnestly pray for the individuals in their families (which, of course, includes my daughters and their husbands)  and the influence their homes have on these young lives.  Then,  after I watch them walk toward the school building; after the “I love you’s” are exchanged; as I drive away, I spend the time praying for them…the particular circumstances of their weeks and the things they have identified as important in whatever their current situations are.  I would not know how to pray so specifically for them without those minutes of uninterrupted conversation.

I only mention these things in case you find yourself in a position to create some alone time with some of the people you dearly love.  And I wholeheartedly recommend that you do create that if you can. It may not be an opportunity to drive a school bus…or maybe it will be.  I do know that you can learn a lot by driving the bus.  You can pray a lot while driving the bus.

It’s not that I pray for and expect God to do some miracle.  Well…yes, that’s exactly what I pray for and expect that He will do.  I pray for the same miracles for them that God did for me when He transformed my life.

After all, Jesus did say this: “…I assure you that the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Up to now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive so that your joy will be complete.” John 16:23-24 CEB

I am not sure if there is a mandatory retirement age for school bus drivers, but I guess my daughters will tell me when that time arrives. And if my students some day, many years from now, remember their times with the old bus driver, all the better.

(Sadly, big lovable Bear passed away since I wrote this. The welcoming committee in Jamie’s driveway will be minus one next Tuesday.)

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