the G-man at INTROSPECTION had me thinking

a comment and a link from Gman at Introspection Section had me thinking
in his rant he spoke about an inconsiderate school bus driver
rather than drift off into a game of show and tell I am going to just say one thing

people who drive professionally should learn to drive professionally
know the law
respect other's rights
behave like adults
understand that actions have consequences

adults should act like adults
adults should drive like adults
and professionals
professionals who can not drive in a professional manner should not be driving professionally

perhaps I need to start putting my money where my mouth is
get out the camera
get some photos
take down some license numbers
then make some phone calls

I am not looking to get anyone fired
I am just trying to get people to behave
we all need a speed check from time to time
and well
it looks like society as a whole needs a speed check

and if calling their boss does not help
maybe I should call their mother!

snitching and blowing whistles are not normally my style
but if this slows things down
if this saves some lives
if this prevents the "worst case scenario"
then I just might have to do it

man....
there were two stories about school buses right on the tip of my tongue

what the heck....

want some show and tell? here ya go

two short ones
will try to keep the adjectives, adverbs, and explatives to a minimum to keep this short
a number of years ago I was out on a ride with my brother
I know it was years ago as at this point in time I was faster on the bike than he was
we were headed down Beach Drive towards Rockville
as we passed through the green light over East West Highway I saw a big yellow school bus screaming down the road
it was clear that this driver had no intention of slowing his pace
the way things were going I would pass the on ramp curve clear but he most certainly would level my brother
so I slowed my pace, raised my hand and pointed, made eye contact and used the power of the Force to slow him down
sure enough he slowed down
we continued rolling on
then the yellow school bus pulled up along side of me
the door opened
with the door open eye contact was made
the driver with a bus full of children slowly started to fade me off the road
watching me all the way
my eyes went from contact with his to the thinning road in front of me
fantasy and reality got confused
had to choose
do I make a leap of faith from the bike into the bus and end this troll of a man's miserable life right here and now
or do I head for the grass and hope for the best
sure enough I selected reality over fantasy
having no more road I leaned back and hit the brakes as I went off the road
no crash
no collision
just anger and frustration
at a glance I took a mental note of the numbers on the yellow bus
only to let those number infect my mind with many versions of that same fantasy
no fantasy ending well
not well for him
not well for me
actions have consequences
it is not my job to teach lessons
lucky for me
lucky for him
I did not see that bus with those numbers and that driver again

another tale?

around that same era I was doing a loop on MacArthur Blvd.
that same loop that I blogged about earlier this week
I was a few miles past the one lane bridge when I was buzzed by a full size yellow school bus
the closeness and the speed sent me shaking
the wind draft of the vehicle pulled me closer to it
riding on the four inch white like I tried to maintain
the options of the drainage ditch to me left or the wheels to my right were not pleasant
the bus finished its pass and rolled into the distance

like the fool I am I let the adrenalin take control of my thoughts
my pace picked up
with heart, lungs, and legs pumping I started to reel in this long yellow school bus
no need to sprint too far
as the bus pulled over to let off some young school children

with the bus stopped I pulled up along side of the bus driver's window and asked him if he could pass me any closer
to that the bus driver simply responded, get in front of me again and see what happens
is that a threat I ask
before he can respond I have taken a large wad of gum out of my mouth and thrown it at him
the massive piece of saliva soaked gum sticks to his neck just below his jaw line
he gestures like he is going to get out of his vehicle
he gestures like he is going to undo his seat belt
before he can unlock his seat belt I feed him an ear full of the truth
old man
on your best day you could not have taken me
what makes you think you can take me now?
go ahead
get out of your bus
think about how you are going to explain what happened today to your wife
she will wonder why all your teeth are in your hands rather than your mouth
to that he is silent
without breaking stare I tell him
you pass me with space and respect or else we will see what happens
I clicked in and rode away
still filled with adrenalin I rode away fast
still in fear
as I bluffed with my body
he may call my bluff with that bus
he did not catch me
he did not pass me
I live to see another day

this reduced the rants... click here