As we are two thirds through the second month of the last year of the first decade of the twenty first century I thought I would check off the only item I had on my New Year resolution list – stop my tendencies to procrastinate.

I am ambivalent about being happy that 2019 is no longer.  In some respects it was the worst year I have had in my prolonged life but it could be argued that because it is still prolonged I came out ahead.  Anyone who knows me also knows I am a contrarian who appreciates a good discussion.  And I have some ideas on that thought but they will have to wait for a later time.

I hate to harp on my health as there are so many people who have health problems much worse than I but even the smallest of health issues can cause ones life to be like riding on any Pennsylvania road in March.  There are potholes within potholes and they are unavoidable and relentless.  No matter how well you drive; your vehicle will take a beating.  Suffice it to say that this vehicle was in the shop quite a bit in 2019 but as with all things there were good things that balanced those experiences. Almost.

One significant and more cheerful experience in 2019 was my retirement from my employment at First Student (re: Stupid) after 19 years of transporting the children for Lower Moreland Township.  My health was a factor but I also just got burned out.  No, it was not the kids.  In my 19 years I had maybe 3 kids who were “problems” and some really outstanding groups of students.  I was burned out by the constant (daily) grind of dealing with a very bad company.  First Student is the epitome of today’s corporation.  Their public face is very different than the reality.  They preach “safety first” very loudly and publicly and never fail to use that when chastising a driver but the drivers and mechanics know that their “safety first” does not pertain to the quality of equipment.  It is practiced as “safety first to the corporate bottom line”.  Most school districts are not aware and trust the corporate selling points and some like Lower Moreland choose to ignore it or work with the company until a significant number of parents (the true customer) make sufficient noise about it.  In the middle of it is the bus driver.

That person driving a school bus who has the audacity to stop and hold you up from getting to work while loading kids has so much on their plate you should stop and consider it before you get so agitated.  They are dealing with four forces that have a direct bearing on their job.  Students of all ages, parents, school administrators and finally the company.  That is how I rank them in importance; other drivers have different rankings according to their own priorities.  The students and their parents were always my main focus and I always had a good relationship with them.  If I made a mistake and they complained to me I would own it and apologize.  Most problems originated in pick up and drop off times and I would work it out with them.  I knew enough not to go through the company or school district because they never want to work with the parents (no matter what they say publicly; you should hear their private comments) and I believe the parents appreciated that service.  What the parents and public do not know is the pressure the drivers have from the Districts and the Company to perform in a manner that will strain any relationship with the parents.  Most drivers conform to the District and Companies out of fear for their employment to their own detriment.  Would it surprise you if I told you that conformity to their bureaucratic nonsense was the last thing on my list to worry about; if it ever made my list.  I could go on with more about driving a school bus but I will save that for a later book.  I just suggest that you look at the school bus driver you may be getting ticked off at and understand that there is more going on than just stopping traffic.

So, that should tell you how great 2019 was for me when the highlight was retiring from a good job in a very bad company.  Can 2020 be any worse?  I don’t like to tempt fate, but I do know that compared to many years, 2019 was a great year and 2020 will be even better.  But being a contrarian…