Wheels on the Bus (go round and round)

In April 2001, just past most of March Madness I had the opportunity to see that year’s college basketball’s championship courtesy of my father-in-law.  At the time, I was a rookie school psychologist making $33K while my wife worked retail making about the same.  Flying off to an NCAA Basketball Championship was not in our budget.  But taking a PTO day absolutely was when my father-in-law was springing for the trip!

Four teams made it to this stage – Arizona, Duke, Maryland, and Michigan State.  They played in what was once the Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN.  It was a cool event with plenty of marque players who became future NBA noteworthies.  I was not a diehard college basketball sports fan but I was a sports fan in general and spent the trip star struck on the opportunity (Duke won it by the way).  A few years before when I was in college I got to see the Cameron Indoor Stadium which is Duke’s storied gymnasium.  My wife (girlfriend at the time) was selected to attend an elite dance camp that Duke hosted so I visited and took in the top attractions!  Back to the Final 4, I got to see Coach K, Mike Krzyzewski, who is practically immortal.  I got to see Carlos Boozer, Jay Williams, and Shane Battier in person.  Throw in Chris Duhon and Mike Dunleavy Jr. and you’ve got yourself a national basketball championship.  It was an experience that has made for several retellings…

On the way back after the final game was over, my father-in-law and I along with others boarded a chartered bus back to our hotel.  Somewhere along the line, the bus driver just got lost and riders became restless.  We were all tired as it was late and as the tension grew someone started singing “the wheels on the bus go round and round.”  And I kid you not, full chorus ensued…

I look back on that day often because it reminds me of the power of how simple gestures can channel bad mojo into positive or at least promising patience.  That night back in 2001 many folks had reveled during the game so that added to the tension on our bus ride but the “wheels” singalong struck a common thread in all passengers.

Student transportation is an area I supervise and I can tell you those wheels go more than round and round.  It’s a no fold endeavor because many of our kids need transport to get there.  Yet our drivers receive the best and sometimes worst of behaviors our kids have to offer at times.

If you’re a bus driver reading my blog, thank you.  If you are a student, be nice to your bus driver.  If you are a teacher, remind your students of what I just said (please).  We have so many opportunities to be combative with one another but what my impromptu trip with my father-in-law taught me some two decades ago was we also have so many opportunities to come together and find common interests.  Now more than I ever I would argue we must find ways to make the wheels on the bus go round and round while we’re all on it.