My love affair with buses began in primary school when I first started riding the bus to and from school. I mean originally I was super nervous because only the big kids took the bus and I wasn't sure if they would accept me as a peer or completely write me off for having a dated backpack. Initially it was scary and didn't go well, I mean there were bullies, big kids, and social rejection. But that all changed by 2nd grade when finally I took control, I felt so empowered and strong the first time I was able to switch seats on the bus, it literally was the first rule I had ever broken. (Ed. note: every bus driver ever is named Nancy, and they are not ones to be messed with)
As my bus riding career progressed into middle school, I found that buses were an amazing educational resource. I said the word "fuck" for the first time on the bus, I learned that Santa was a lie, I learned how sex worked, how to play poker, and the actual meaning of the word "gay." Sure I had my school friends and my neighborhood friends, but me and my bus friends were a different breed. We were a self-proclaimed gang, and it was thicker than blood or water. I even got asked out by my very first boyfriend on the bus. He passed me a note that said "will you go out with me?" It was super cute and became a major topic of gossip between my fellow members of my bus gang. Sadly, I said no because I wasn't ready to emotionally commit. It created a slight rift in the gang, but we eventually moved passed it on to other bus related business. Nevertheless, it was still a major moment in my pre-pubescent life.
In 6th grade I also saw someone get hit by a car on the bus. I think this was what really cemented our bus bond. We had seen something real and intense, it was like a blood oath. It allowed me to leave my Middle school bus career on a high. (The kid was fine FYI)
When I got to Jr. High, I had to switch buses once again and I was immediately annoyed by the fact that I was no longer a big deal on the bus. It took all the way to 8th grade before I regained any power on bus 164 and reclaimed my back seat status (bus rule #1, the cool kids sit in the back, the losers sit in the front). My Jr. High bus years were definitely some of the hardest bus years of my life, especially when this one bitch Kristin called me a slut for the first time and the fight escalated enough that it was the first and only time I was called down to the principals. It wasn't my fault that she and her brother were lame and needed to be put in their place. It also wasn't my fault that my legions of bus buddies backed me, bitch deserved it.
It should also be noted that the regular school bus is completely different from band buses and ski club buses. These buses have more sexual activity than a brothel in Amsterdam. On regular buses, making out rarely happens because you are your bus posse are bros and bros don't mack in public.
In high school, I finally discovered cars and people with cars which meant my school bus career went on hiatus. I mean I loved cars, and senior boys with cars were totally dope, but a part of me did yearn for my former bus years.
Since then, buses stopped being school oriented, and started being travel and public transportation oriented. They continue to be a source of reliable comfort in my life, like a good boyfriend or a puppy. So here's to you buses, you taught me about social hierarchy, sex, bad words, poker and continue to take me to fabulous places without asking for much in return. Cheers.
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