Yesterday was National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

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I didn't realize it until it popped up on my FB memories this morning. My dad was a bus driver in the district I work in for 25 years. That was after he retired from running nightclubs over on the island in Seaside Heights. He always said that dealing with kids was easier than dealing with drunks and would remind my mother when she complained about us that my sister and I were very good kids. After he retired and there was a massive shortage of bus drivers post-COVID he returned as a substitute driver but would only do trips. He didn't want to have to wake up at 4am and do new routes every day. He loved driving sports teams and would even bring his own golf clubs to play if he was taking a golf team to a course. He was the only bus driver on the transportation staff who would take a trip into Manhattan. I wouldn't even drive a car in NYC let alone a school bus. That man could PARALLEL PARK a bus in the city. For real. One of my friends at work is the band director. My dad drove the band to many many football games and band tournaments. They bonded over music and their shared hobby of RC car racing. He was one of the first people to reach out after my dad passed because he heard it through the RC group. I said "you'll have to find a new favorite bus driver" and he said "no he will always be my favorite bus driver". Hi Dad. I miss you.