Monday, October 12, 2009

Additions To My Job Description

Over the past two workdays, I have done some things beyond the call of duty of a bus driver, trainer, and dispatcher. I'm not trying to pat myself on the back (though it's not impossible with arms like these!). Just some fun, slightly random things to liven up my workday and I thought I'd share them with you.

Friday morning, a new employee went to the local DPS office to take her road test. I was a bit anxious because she was my first behind-the-wheel trainee. She got an early appointment and an hour and a half later, I was chomping at the bit to find out how she'd done. The next call I got nearly put me on the floor: her bus was stuck in the mud. It turns out she was just following the orders of a new DPS examiner and took a turn that shouldn't have been attempted in anything larger than a Smart Car. So, I added excavator to my resume. I hopped in the shop truck with one of the mechanics and helped my trainee extract her bus from about a foot of rain soaked soil. Success! (Oh, and she passed her driving test!)

Today, I was doing a pre-trip inspection on a bus when I heard a funny knocking sound. I looked toward the engine, expecting a drive shaft or worse to pound its way through the fiberglass. Instead, I saw a very confused and quickly tiring mockingbird. I guess she flew in the front door when I wasn't looking and got stuck. I tried coaxing her out through the open door, but she couldn't get out from the seats. So I waited until she took a break and then tossed my safety vest over her and gently scooped her up. I took her outside and, thinking she might need a bit of a break, tried to set her on a tree branch. She opted to fly off on her own. She even turned around and gave her wildlife rescuer a wingtip to forehead salute. I smiled and continued inspecting the bus.

What will tomorrow bring? Only God knows. But I eagerly look forward to finding out.

3 comments:

marissa said...

I didn't know birds could salute. :-)

Mule Skinner said...

Nice all around!

Unknown said...

Don't forget you are the "go-to" guy when other dispatchers (i.e. Me) need a little reassurance....Oh and Now I have a visual image in my head of a little cartoon bird turning around, smiling, saluting, and then fluttering away with this weird theme music to it. LOL!