It's that time of year again and yesterday as I glanced out my bedroom window early in the morning I saw the yellow school bus go by on the road just outside town. What memories that sight conjured up for me and what realizations of how times have changed, at least in my household.
All three of my boys rode one of those yellow buses, and mostly with less than enthusiasm. How busy were those mornings trying to get three active boys up, dressed, and fed, ready to go before 7 am. We live at the end of the bus line and for some reason were always first on in the mornings an last off after school. Perhaps because one of the school board member's children was at the other end of the line? As soon as my oldest was 16 and had the cherished driver's license the bus stopped no more in front of my house.
But, before too many years, in the flash of an eye, or so it seems, the grandkids were starting school. Both Moms worked so Granny Care developed. Five eager (?) faces would appear at my house just before 7 am for breakfast. I like to cook and it was such fun to do a good breakfast for the little ones. I had a third grader, a second grader, a first grade and two in kindergarten. They would gather around my dining room table eagerly anticipating bacon or sausage plus eggs or whatever the fare of the morning would be. They still tell the story of passing the plate of bacon by shoving it across the table.... unfortunately the plate fell off the other side of the table and the dog had a good breakfast that day. Some days if we were very organized, we had time for a
story. Soon they would line up outside to wait for that yellow bus. I can picture that still.
Today, one granddaughter is off to college almost 4 hours away, living in a dorm, the other will remain at home and study at the local junior college. The oldest grandson has graduated from the University of Illinois and has a wonderful job. The other two boys work in our family business so I see them more often. It's amazing but they still come to Gran's house looking for food. I guess some things never change!
