Precious Cargo 2

8/29/11 - Road Rage and School Bus Drivers in Mansfield, PA

My children will tell anyone who asks that I am generally anal when it comes to street lights, stop signs, even to following the arrows in the Wal-Mart parking lots. When people drive the wrong way, I have to say something. When people drive their cars too far into intersections before bothering to yield, or when they run stop signs, I say something about it. When it is dangerous behavior, I use my horn.

Today was no exception.

Since 2004, there has been a problem with the aggressive bus drivers not stopping at the stop sign at the end of the bus lane in front of our local High School. The bus lane empties out into Besaneecy/Dorsett Drive a street that intersects with Route 6 and also has a stop sign. Today, the driver of Bus 37 didn't even bother to brake as he approached the stop sign. Having the right of way on Besaneecy Drive leading up to West Wellsboro St. (Route 6), I beeped to warn him I was approaching. I hoped he had seen me, but I was certain that even if he did, he would run the stop sign.  The bus drivers often do, though it is illegal. I always drive defensively, but this made me doubly cautious. As he ran the stop sign, he *only* braked because I was right in front of him. My daughter was with me in the car. I came to a full stop at the stop sign and beeped again to warn him of the danger of his position. He had a bus load of children just picked up from the school, after all. As I looked out the driver's window of my SUV, I could see the bus grille and the windshield and very clearly see the driver's head and metal rimmed glasses. I could *not* see the roof of the bus or the tires. He was completely blocking the opposing lane and any turning traffic.

I pointed to his stop sign and held my hand palm out at him to indicate he was required to stop at the sign, which every driver ought to know to do, especially one who drives our children around for his living. He leaned into his horn for a long time. Sixty seconds or more, making it impossible for me to determine if I could proceed safely onto the highway because I did not know what he was going to do. I was afraid to take my eyes off him. His aggression toward me was plain and I could not be sure he would not try to proceed past me onto Route 6.

When he stopped blowing his bus horn, I was able to concentrate on driving again. I accessed the traffic and determined I could make my turn when it was clear to me that there was an opening. I turned right onto Route 6 and he immediately followed after me. I proceeded toward the red light at the intersection of Route 6 and Route 15, braking to come to a stop. The light turned green while I was applying the brake and the cars ahead of me accelerated to cross the intersection. Traffic was very heavy - it always is between 3pm and 3:30pm. This was also the first day of school and I was being very cautious because of the potential for student foot traffic at the light. I was leery of the bus behind me because he had pulled up very close to my rear bumper and was tailgating me. All I could see in my rearview mirror was the silver and black bus grille. Though I didn't even come to a full stop, since traffic was moving, he beeped at me again while I was transitioning between the brake and the gas, quite plainly impatient with me. By this time, my daughter was getting upset and I was quite concerned regarding the bus driver's aggressive behavior.

I proceeded along Route 6 toward Academy Street. I had hoped to turn left onto N. Academy, but at the intersection of Academy and Route 6 traffic was again at a standstill. There were several college students crossing at the crosswalk. When they were across and it was safe, I proceeded forward at the speed limit of 25 mph. The bus driver was on my tail the whole way. When the speed changed to 35, I accelerated to the speed limit, hoping to get away from the bus but he stayed right on my bumper.  I was concerned for the safety of my daughter and as soon as I could, I signaled a left turn to take me down a side street to E. Elmira Street.  Thankfully, there was no oncoming traffic. I only applied the brake enough to make the left turn and the bus driver AGAIN leaned into his horn as I made my turn.

I drove along E. Elmira until I got home. With a brief stop in my driveway to collect my frayed nerves and calm my daughter, I decided to return to the school to report the bus driver. I do not know the name of the company. I plan to find out ASAP.The new principal was outside watching the last of the buses leave. He greeted my daughter and me warmly.  I introduced myself and relayed the incident to him. He told me that others had already reported it to him because of the bus driver's excessive use of his horn. The principal was very kind and helpful. He offered to contact the bus company.

I am almost willing to wait to hear from him. Then again, I may call him tomorrow to find out what occurred, but I am not going to see this kind of aggressive abuse of power continue. Men and women entrusted with our children should not be perpetrators of road rage. Perhaps this driver was having a bad day, some might say. If he was, he should not have been behind the wheel of a vehicle that can weigh anywhere from 10 to 14 tons when it's empty.  Full of High School students, that weight increases dramatically. These vehicles do not stop instantly, though he had plenty of time to stop at that stop sign. At highway speed, 55 mph, it can take 300 feet to stop a bus. At 35 mph, that driver would have crumpled my SUV - and quite possibly my daughter and myself - with his bus if I had needed to stop suddenly. No school bus driver should be tailgating anyone, anywhere for any reason.  His actions were unconscionable.  

Precious Cargo

There is nothing like sharing something special with your child. There is nothing better than sharing the things you love most in the world with them. My one and only daughter has written a short story. Like me, in the same month as I did, she has e-published it through Smashwords. I am one very proud Author-Mom of an Author-Daughter.

Please go and download this free e-book. It is a wonderful short story, incredibly sweet. I am not just saying that because she is my daughter, either.

The Bedtime Story by M. J. Kiessling

I did the editing on this gem. Things I don't think about as a writer come back to me when I am editing. Things  I have been reading recently in Kristen Lamb's blogs stood out to me as I was editing. I think I might finally be able to tackle my WIP with much more success because of this as well. Things I owe my daughter - go figure!  She is the best daughter anyone could have, so I expect to owe her much more in the future. (I'm buttering her up for when I am old, and infirm and need someone to live with. ;D  Love you, honey!)

In that spirit of war against my own poorly written prose, I'll quote the Bard in Henry V: Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more! 

Very GOOD Things!

BARNES & NOBLE | In the Mirror by Robin Lythgoe | NOOK Book (eBook)

How exciting is this?? I have to say, for my friend Robin Lythgoe, that I am extremely excited! Jumping up and down excited. If you haven't read this yet, go, download it now. It is a clever short story and highly enjoyable. Go!

Also, today in the mail, I received Jody Hedlund's book: The Doctor's Lady. I am already 60 pages in! I will let you all know what I think when I'm through, but I am loving the characters so far (even loving to hate some of them!). Look for an interview with Jody upcoming in September, right here in Directions for the Journey. I will have more on that in future posts.

Don't let anyone tell you there aren't good books and talented writers out there. There certainly are and more all the time. What a fantastic time to be both writer and reader. I would love to hear about some authors and titles you've come across lately. What new stories have inspired you? Who makes you think? Share what you know!

May God bless you on your journey today with traveling mercies.

Oops, Maintenance

Sometimes, things break down and have to be repaired. Other times, it is clear that maintenance is needed to prevent having things break down and having huge bills for repair.  This week, we are painting in my daughter's room. It required a lot of prep work and the paint colors she chose are bright fall colors. It will be a very festive room when done.

My husband did the drywall repair. There was a BIG hole in the ceiling covered by pegboard, of all things, where someone must have stepped through from the attic. Hubby is not a professional, but the work is passable (especially since my daughter may decide in a few years to change it all up again).

I suggested we paint a primer coat first to even out the unpainted spots and the places where shelves and the closet were removed. We had to put up new drywall in some places had to go up. Then the messy job of mud and sanding followed. These left off color, unpainted areas. I call these the "ugly." Hubby said the paint we bought suggested coverage in one coat. I knew the paint lied when he and the daughter brought it home; still, I let it go because the others were so eager to get the job done.

After the first coat on the ceiling, it was clear that the paint was very thick but not covering well. A second coat and even a third (in some areas) was necessary to hide the "ugly" darker spots and the pencil marks. The ugly on the walls has not gone away with a first coat, either! The first coat of paint on the walls nearly emptied the can. I was disappointed, but undaunted even as we drew near to the end of that first wall coat. I told everyone that we would make it work.

Then, I discovered the slash. There is a six inch, horizontal slash in the wall right next to two spots the hubby had already done drywall and mud. It looks like someone took a running circular saw and just pressed it up against the wall for a split-second. Excuse me? Where did this come from?? The hubster swears it wasn't there when he was doing the drywall mud or he would have done it too. Now, I am feeling a bit daunted. I finished the painting of that first coat anyway. I might be able to fill the slash with carefully placed mud once the paint is dry and then paint over that. I hope. I think we'll need another can of paint.

I will let you know how it goes.

I realized, while waiting for the paint to dry that this is a problem I find in writing as well. I think something is going to work fine and then I discover that I have made some major mistakes, left gaping plot holes and there is no amount of paint that will cover it up. The best solution for me then is to rewrite that section. Go back to the studs, you know? Build from the bones up. Painful - sometimes. Messy... oh boy. Worth it? Definitely.

While editing over the last two days on my Work In Progress (or WIP - I won't tell you how long it took me to get that. Shhhh.) I've noticed some plot holes for which I may need to go back to the "studs." I hope not. I hope a little Spackle, a little mud and a little sanding will do the trick.

Then again, I do love writing. If I have to go back to the "studs," that will mean a book more thoroughly thought out, more exactingly executed. Painful, yeah, but certainly worth it for me and the reader who puts faith in me as a writer.

I think it's time for that second coat.

What are you doing this weekend? Working, having fun or both? I do not believe they are mutually exclusive! Let me know about your rewrites, your slashes and your successes and have a great weekend!

Your Destination is on the Right

Whenever we travel, as we recently did to pick up my son from his internship in Illinois, we have come to rely on Lola. Lola is the GPS in my husband's phone. Yes, he named her. Lola is temperamental. At least, we like to say so. Clearly Lola is just a GPS without feelings - a program to help us along the way. You know, just an application.

I have the courage to type that, but I would never say it out loud because it seems to me that Lola can actually hear me. Makes me nervous. Of course, I know that we call that anthropomorphism: attributing human qualities to things that are not human. But Lola sure seems human. When she gives us directions, she is insistent about our following them. When we don't, she reminds us with an insistent frequency that we are going the wrong way. She says, "Make the next legal U-turn."

I like that Lola is concerned about what is legal. She doesn't just say, "Recalculating route - turn now!" like a certain terror in a famous commercial on TV does, making the driver crash into parked cars. (Love those commercials. Mayhem was never so much fun.) She is cautious, concerned, we think, for our welfare. When we don't listen to her well-ordered instructions, she reminds us until she is certain we have gone too far for help. She may recalculate a few times, but eventually, she'll stop. That's when we get a little musical tone. Upon hearing that tone, my husband inevitably says, "Ut oh, I've made her angry. C'mon Lola, don't be mad!"

We laugh, turn in to get our gas or take a break or grab coffee - whichever reason we broke her carefully calculated set of directions in the first place - and "wait for her to calm down."

Is she really upset? Of course not. (I think.) But it feels that way sometimes. Especially after miles of hearing her tell us to "go straight for 117 miles, then make a right onto" this or that road. Often, our response is, "Yeah, I'll remember THAT after 117 miles" which is why we have her. Or, "Shut up, Lola." I sometimes get the feeling my husband just likes telling a female voice to shut up. Not sure.

The greatest words we hear Lola say, however, are these: "your destination is on the right." Why it is almost always on the right, I can't say for sure, but it usually is. Right or left, long journey or short, we love getting to our destination. The journey is often full of humor, long stories, deep conversations, yes. Still, there is nothing like getting there; nothing like seeing the people you have traveled so far to see, or the event you've been waiting to be part of for a long time.

This destination, this day that I've been waiting for, I have finally reached. I e-published my first short story yesterday, late last night, actually, on Smashwords. I was nervous, as I sometimes am when I think Lola really is angry with us. More nervous than that. Terrified that my story will be overlooked, ignored, or worse, mocked. Yet, when I woke up this morning, it was a different world. I am a published author. However I got there, wherever I've been before, I have reached that first, longed for destination. God has answered a prayer long ago prayed just when I was ready for His answer. I hope my story gives glory to His Name.

What a ride it's been. What a journey ahead! I cannot express how excited I am - it just can't be put into words yet. To all the "Lolas" in my life, my writing partner Robin, my husband, my daughter ... thank you for helping me get there. Think of all the places we can go now. Wow.

Have you reached your first mile-marker? Are you there yet? Tell me about your journey - I would love to hear about it!

If you would all be very kind, I would love to hear your thoughts on my short story, Sanguis Dei, available now for free download on Smashwords. Read, review, let me know what you think. And thanks!

Time Out

Sometimes, you gotta take a break from the journey. This week, we'll be heading to the fine state of Illinois to pick up our oldest son from his summer internship and bring him home for the fall semester of college. I will be busy packing and calculating (and probably re-calculating along with Lola, our GPS) so I will not be doing much editing. I may take along a notebook and write longhand, come up with some blog posts on the road ... we'll see. I will have my phone so I can tweet, but I won't be reading many blogs. I'll catch up with you all when I get back!

Have a terrific week!

In the meantime, read some clever and creative posts by the folks listed over there ------>