Driving the "Bus"

     Well, today I can add something new to my resume. The school bus driver did not show up so I was recruited to take over his duties. As you might remember, the "bus" is actually the school's red pick-up truck. It has really taken a beating on the 3 miles of muddy gravel road that surrounds the village. One tire is perpetually low, the wind whistles through the passenger window, and the spiderweb of cracks on the windshield make for an interesting view.

You can just see Alayssa's eyes
on the far side of the "bus."

     When Matt called, I was still at home, but I hurried over to the school and found a cute little second grader Alayssa already perched on the passenger seat of the truck. She announced, "I am your GPS." (Matt had installed her as my navigator.) Awesome news since I didn't know where anyone lived and at 8:00 a.m., it is still pitch black outside. Alayssa wasn't so great with keeping her right & left straight, but if I followed her pointing finger, I didn't go wrong. We'd pile in 3 or 4 kids, turn around and take them to the school, and then go back for more. Two trips did the trick since several parents delivered their own children on 4 wheelers. 

     After school, the bus driver was still AWOL, so my GPS and I reversed the process.

*This picture was taken on our after-school delivery. It is January 27th in Alaska. No coat, wearing tennis shoes... I hear there is no school in Lincoln again today due to the extreme cold & wind. What is wrong with this weather picture?????


And in further regards to the "bus," we had just filled 'er up at the village gas station last week. It is run by the city and is the only place to fill up your motor vehicles in town. The station is open from 3:00 - 4:00 Monday through Friday, $5 a gallon. Remember, full service? It's alive & well here in Pilot Point!