The Bus Ride

BETHALTO, ILLINOIS-------I am at terminal six in the basement of the Bethalto Public Library….mostly because my morning walk has frozen my hands…and also because I feel a blog coming on.

It has been a strange few days. Last week I flew to West Plains, MO. To watch the college’s volleyball team compete at nationals. But they didn’t show up. We got crushed twice and I was left with two days before my airline ticket would allow me to get back to Texas. American Airlines was willing to get me an earlier flight….for a thousand dollars. Now I know why Southwest is kicking AA’s butt.

So I hitched a ride on the team bus. I purchased this team bus a few years ago and it is my pride and joy. A new paint job….the College’s logo….and you would never know it is ten years old. The 11-and-a-half hour trip through Oklahoma was fun. It reminded me of all those bus rides of my youth…coming and going to sporting events.

My favorite memory is the football game we played in Mascoutah when I was a wide-eyed sophomore. A senior, by the name of Brad Rogers, captured a small cat before we loaded the bus and kept it under wraps. No wonder we only won one game that year. Rogers was a great linebacker-----but he also was an anti-authority guy….which doesn’t help a team accomplish its task.

Anyway---the cat kept meowing as we rolled down the road and the coaches thought we had some smartass making cat noises in the back. For some reason----that was hilarious at the time….and still brings back a smile when I think of it today.

That day---somebody’s pet was released into the wilds of Mascoutah…and we lost a football game by four touchdowns.

The bus ride made me think about how meaningful it was to be part of a team. I try to instill that in my work at the college….but never does it seem as real as it did 40 years ago as I was decked out in purple stuff…heading to Jerseyville, Highland or O’Fallon.

Once home in Texas, I unpacked, re-packed and headed for the airport for a trip here…to my hometown.

It is good seeing family. That is the mission here. I will spend as much time as I can with my sons, my mom and my sister’s family.  I also plan on driving to Fairfield, my second home, to see people that mean much to me there.

There always seems to be a monster under the bed during these visits….especially in Bethalto. I spent 44 years of my life here….but no longer feel comfortable except for short term exposure. Too many bad memories….too many people who blame me for the crimes of others. Too much negative history.

Life is too short to deal with things you can’t control.

So I use my energy to accomplish things elsewhere.

And when I blow through….it is sort like taking that bus ride from Missouri back to Texas.

I try to enjoy the ride….and relish the memories it spawns.