OUTRAGE

I am so frustrated!!! And, because I don't have a punching bag, this blog will have to do. I love the bus here in Logan. I take it almost everywhere. I prefer to ride the bus over driving my own car for several reasons: it's free, it's air conditioned, no car seats, no driving involved, it's free, did I mention AIR CONDITIONING? For you who don't know, I have a trash car with NO a/c. Who wouldn't prefer the bus? One of our weekly outings to keep my status as "decent mother" is to take my children, ON THE BUS, to the library. Today was the day. I should have just resigned myself to the fact that the enitre day was shot and just forget about going anywhere. It was a rough morning here. I felt a little better by the afternoon and needed an excuse to not mop my floor, so we went to the library. I was feeling overly confident, which was my first mistake. We made it out the door to the library with all our books, movies (in the cases), the DVD we forgot to put in the case from two weeks ago, and the rest of my crossing guard equiptment that I keep forgetting to return to the police dept. which is right by the library. We get on the bus no problem, make our transfer and get to our stop with no problems. We return the things to the police station and the kids both have to use the bathroom, no problem! Normally, that is a big problem for me. They usually have to go when there isn't any bathroom available. Today they both went in a completely vacant bathroom right next to the window where I drop off my equiptment. GOOD TIMING!!! I should have known it couldn't last. We had a relaxing trip because we are only on a schedule for ourselves today, which is VERY RARE! They get books, videos, and play computer games. We check out and walk pretty slowly back to the bus stop. We WAIT AND WAIT, but that is to be expected. The bus shows up well before I get nervous. This bus route has a habit of being very late and causing all the riders to miss their next transfer, meaning around 30 minutes of sitting there in the heat, waiting for a bus to take you and your two whiny children home. We are going along well, no stops, we're going to make it to the transit center in plenty of time! Then we have to stop and pick up a wheelchair rider. This always causes delays. Bless the bus driver for asking what transfers people need, and this time he hears my request! And, there are other people who need my bus as well! We will make it! It's almost 2pm and we haven't eaten lunch yet, please keep in mind. Thankfully, it isn't very hot... not even in the 90's. I hear the request for the transfers, and the confirmation from the transit center. We really will make it. We get to the station and there is a mass exodus from the bus. Kaylee is almost trampled, I can't get myself and Charles off the bus until the last people leave. THANKS A LOT! We hurry off just in time to see bus 9 pulling out from the curb. I run to an opening and wave and drag my children with a huge bag of books hanging from my arm and the bus driver looks at me and SHAKES HIS HEAD AND DRIVES OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I yell at the kids for not hurrying, and throw my bag across the pavement to a bench. I use any remaining self control to keep from running into the station and yelling at the people in there for not waiting for a transfer for a late bus. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM TRY AND HAVE AN OUTING WITH TWO CHILDREN IN TOW, NO LUNCH, A BAG OF BOOKS, A THREE YEAR OLD WHO WEIGHS 35 LBS AND WANTS TO BE CARRIED AND NOT GET A LITTLE GRUMPY WHEN YOU GET DITCHED FOR THIRTY MINUTES AT A STATION. The time was spent reading to the children through clenched teeth and casting "looks of death" at anyone who looked like they were going to make some unwelcome comment like "oh, looks like you've got your hands full" or "now, mom, remember they're only young once" or some other stupid thing that mom's DON'T need to hear from perfect strangers.