20 Hour Bus Certification...

In 1992, I graduated from WTSU (yes, it's called WTAMU now, but my degree doesn't say A&M!!!), and went on the road playing music and preaching at times along the way. I got into the studio and did some recording on a solo album, and played on some other folks' albums. When Warner Brothers decided to launch into the Latin music market they created a label called Warner Bros. Discos, and their first album was a band called "Tesoro". I was asked to play saxophone on their album because, as the producer, Billy Stull, said, "Yeah, their lead singer plays some sax but you're a lot better and it'll be awesome!" I played solos on some tracks, and the singer tried to play what I did, they recorded both of us separately and mixed him in REALLY quietly on a different channel. When the album came out he was listed as "Lead Vocals and Saxophone", and I was a footnote...oh the joys of not possessing a Musician's Union Card at the time. Anywho, my dad was a child of The depression and was up my keester all the time to get a "real" job. He didn't want his son to be a dang smelly hippy musician. So after tons of harassment I finally got a job, at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, outside of Amarillo.

I was the Minister of Music & Worship at Boy's Ranch, and it was alright. While there I had to become certified as a CDL bus driver (every man at the ranch had to be able to drive everything short of the ranch's 18-wheeled vehicles...the women didn't!!!), so I could drive kids around for various trips. It wasn't so bad, but when I left the ranch I let my CDL slide and never worried about it. 

When I left full-time ministry in 2002, and started in education full-time, I didn't need a CDL. The schools where I taught always had policies where they provided a driver for sports and activities. However, now that I'm back in a TX public school, and I'm coaching, I have been offered the opportunity to re-earn my CDL. Today, tomorrow, and Thursday, I am attending a 20-hour bus driving certification class, and man is it NOT exciting. 

We have a new coach at our middle school this year, just got married in June and is excited to start it up with the 7th-8th grade crowd. The new guy is with me, so I'm not alone in my misery, err exciting time, but it's still one riveting video after another. I sit there and read along with the class in the exciting manual and at the end of every chapter there is a quiz that I've already completed. When the instructor reads a question and asks for the answer the young guys hesitate, the teacher looks at me, and I give out the answer. As I sat there today I kept thinking of good old Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, who said, "Money is like an arm or a leg - use it or lost it!" 

Why didn't I just keep my CDL current? How hard could it have been? Think of how simple it would have been to NOT be sitting in this classroom on July 30, 31, and August 1, for 20 hours. But, alas, my short-sighted-ADHD-OCD-king-of-the-hill mentality kicked in, yet again, and here I am back where I was 20 years ago getting another CDL! So, what's the moral of the story? I guess at the end of the day the moral is begin with the end in mind. Look down the road, remember that where you are today, and how you feel about the world, is temporary and subject to change. The more certifications and degrees and liscensure you possess the more hireable and profitable you are. 

I guess I could be doing worse things with my time. NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER SURRENDER!