Busbiz

We can't end mental health's stigma if we won't talk about it.

"If we design workplaces that permit people to find meaning in their work, we will be designing a human nature that values work." (Psychologist Barry Schwartz) For me, the US Postal Service drained all the energy out of me. Enough to cause clinical depression. After retiring, and writing four short books on that damage, I have found the 'perfect' job for me...driving a school bus.

We had another accident in our school bus family. A new driver was coming off the highway and took the inside turn lane, INSTEAD of the recommended outside turn lane. Resulting in too much bus and a wrinkled car. Almost got free pizza, as that is the prize if we go one month without an accident. As the holidays are upon us and the traffic increases, we must be diligent. We need to be on trop of our game--taking good care of our passengers and taking good care of our buses.

It took 50 years and 68 jobs to figure out that I was Bipolar-2. Now, as I write books about it and feel I've got 'things' figured out, the USA goes nuts and elects a man with no experience to take us into a new REALITY. God help us!

Trump has stimulated more off-the-wall talk. In Iowa, a renegade Congressman (Steve King) has talked about 'cultural suicide'. In an Opinion, printed in the Des Moines Register, Swarthmore assistant professor Sangina Patnair tears into his wildly racist fear-mongering.

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. I have decided to share information on social media. The most recent data (2014) tells us that there were 42,773 suicides in the United States. That is 117 per day. One every 12 minutes. Twenty veterans commit suicide every day. We need to talk about this. We need to get a handle on this mental health crises.

First week back-to-school is over. Same old problems. Our neighbors to the west, Waukee and Johnston, made it on TV and into the Des Moines Register. Our first week kinks were minor compared to their mess. New managers, additional students, drivers quitting over loss of benefits, upset parents--this local soap opera has it all. Check out my blog and my podcast for more information. @postmasterjim #jimthebusdriver busbiz.libsyn.com/podcast http://www.postmasterjimblog.wordpress.com/

For some, free tickets to fly to Alaska would be a great gift. For this flatlander, with a long-term Fear-of-Flying, it has been a hurdle I have not been able to get over. Panic attack, following by rumination and depression. The only way to break it was a 4-hour road trip to go see my daughter and her two boys. The 7-year-old was busy riding bikes -- but the one-year old was right where I needed him. Holding his arms up for a Grandpa Lift -- it was that little boy that gave me the life. Thanks Cal!!!

Our political scene appears to be so harsh and so segmented. The world is now the scene of great disruption. We have police shootings across the U.S. I am recalling my Navy experience, when I was a member of the "Blue Jacket" choir -- when we would sing the NAVY HYMN. I trust you will listen and think of peaceful times.

Our most precious cargo, Children! Almost every year, a number of school bus related topics are discussed at the legislative session, with some being introduced as bills. Some bills eventually work through the legislative process and become law while others are simply information requests. As a school bus driver for six years, I remain vigilant to any new legislation that could impact school buses--after all, this is my primary livelihood. And, as is the trend, nothing got done in the Iowa House. Eleven bills marched up the hill and NONE were adopted, or passed. The one the angered me the most was that someone thought it was a good idea to propose reducing the first time penalty of Kadyn's Law (SF196). The current fine ranges from $250-$675, with a 30-day license suspension and an optional 30 days in jail. We are finding that this fine is RARELY imposed and NO ONE goes to jail! We have even heard of a recent court ruling where a 17-year-old, who ran an extended RED STOP ARM was warned and then fined ONLY $100

Crime happens when there is a victim. From my island of safety, north of Des Moines, IA, the crime is very low--or is it just not reported? This morning I let my little Bichon drag me around our Dog Park for my sake. My exercise. My heart health. I walked with the only other person at the park, a pleasant young mother who was originally from New York, and had just taken her daughter to the Des Moines airport to fly back to New York. When we got back to our cars, hers was broken into. A smash-and-grab from the passengers side--taking her purse--and the credit cards. She called the police. They arrived quickly. It is then that we found out that this was the fifth broken window break-in at the dog park in the past month. I am sad that petty crime, with a variety of victims, has come to our quiet little town.

Now that school is out for summer and we FINALLY are on summer vacation, the school buses are now focused on transporting workers to the fields for detassling corn and special charter trips around the region. One of bus driving pals told me that he is signed up for three charters, this coming week. From church camp to Capital tours, from family reunions to picnics. For me, I think I am going to taking some days off. This chapter of BUS BIZ talks about one of the return letters I got from an airline pilot, in New York. I had reached out on HARO (Help A Reporter Out) and asked for bus travel input. Pilot Patrick Smith (Askthepilot) has a cute story about bus travel in Turkey, I think you will like it. And then you will probably ask, "Why has America let that same infrastructure travel service fall apart?"

The biggest relief come on the final day when you no longer have to deal with the double-parking, distracted parents picking up their kids in the BUS LOADING ZONE! I have great fears of the growing number of rude and distracted drivers that feel that the most convenient pick up spot at school (the Bus Loading Zone) is their own personal parking area. Some of these parents just pull up to the zone, get out and walk into the school for their meetings. No thought is given to the big old yellow bus that is trying to 'squeeze' and maneuver around their car, before and after dropping other kids off -- or picking them up. And then when we move into that left lane, because the right lane is now blocked, that clogs up the traffic. What is to be done? I know, there is more important issues to deal with -- like how did Donald Trump ever rise to the top of the Republican Heap.  #BusBiz_podcast @jimthebusdriver @postmasterjim

Bronchitis has had me town for a few weeks, so my news may be TARDY. We are within sight of the end of our school year and the Prom is over, the graduation parties are underway and the summer jobs are getting picked up. This is the time of year that has mixed emotions. As a driver I will miss the kids. I will also miss the regular schedule. I am recalling the annual transition where 8th graders now call themselves incoming Freshman. The 'budding' relationships have now moved to hand holding in public. And the new drivers take away most of my passengers. Some trips I have only one or two riders. Sad as it may be...I am ready to sleep in!  

That mystery person behind the wheel is your friend. We are responsible to know our students and we are working so that they will know us. We now carry ID cards. One of the parts of this new Podcast is making the driver more visible. Getting to know you. #jimthebusdriver

On a gorgeous 70-degree Tuesday evening, in Ankeny, IA...I look out the kitchen window to see my freshly mowed back lawn. Charlotte is at Quilter's Guild and when she comes home we will scoot over to the ballpark to watch grandson Griffin play in his first 8pm game. This early 8+ min reading includes comments from Harvey Mackay, in the Des Moines Register. Then I start reading from my 5th book...BUS BIZ...now on Amazon.

As I get better at my new hobby, I will be using some of the canned music for intros and outros...for now, I will start my podcasts with a favorite tune from my past. In this case, Brylcreem -- "A little-dab-will-do-ya" -- "simple rub a little in your hair" -- it was the hair product of choice in the 50's and 60's, before the Beatles showed us how cool the mop look would become.   I continue with my readings from one of my four books on bipolar disorder.