Still Lovin' It

 When I was in...probably 6th or 7th grade, I had a 3-speed bicycle.
I used to ride it up and down the sidewalk, pretending I was driving a bus.
I'd ride along for awhile, then pull into a neighbor's driveway to pick up passengers.
I would always leave the bike in high gear, so that it felt like I was driving a big, heavy bus.
Back and forth along the sidewalk....in and out of "bus stops" I would go.

When I was in Jr. High and High School, I rode the bus to school a lot. I loved to sit in the front, where I could watch the driver shift, then double-clutch, then shift again that big old Gillig 6-speed bus. I remember being fascinated with looking out the front doors and seeing the street go by...less than a foot below the steps; even more amazed at how effortlessly he maneuvered that monster full of kids safely through traffic.

At the time, I don't think I wanted to be a bus driver, but I was just in awe of anyone who could do that.

Well...look at me now. Going on 16 years and still lovin' it........................(city bus...not school bus!!!)