Bus driver

JOYPEACE

=============== We were waiting in the blistering sun at the Dollar Car Rental. The shuttle was due in a few minutes to take us to the airport. We were leaving my wife's family reunion in Hartford, CT. The shuttle was a sight for sore and hot eyes. We had five bags, one a monstrosity of a bag, the king of backbreakers. The shuttle driver popped out with a wide grin and eagerly began loading the bags onto the bus. "Be careful with that one," I said, pointing to the backbreaker. He was a rather short man, not exactly the incredible Hulk type. He tugged and struggled with the bag as it slowly lifted onto the bus. "This kind keeps my voice low," he joked as his voice went into a deep masculine tone as vertebrate creaked under the load. Before the door closed, the driver went into a one-man comedy act. "Where ya headed?" he inquired. "Atlanta," was the reply. "Y'all still got possums in Atlanta? The last time I was there many years ago, possums were running across the road by the herd. I was nearly burning the brakes out on my car stopping for all of the possums then I said what the heck. "You ever heard a possum squish under a tire?" "I hear possum tastes pretty good," was his next remark. The ride to the airport was about five minutes. It was five minutes of non-stop laughter. He went on and on about this and that with a rather difficult to understand but nevertheless hilarious accent. He finally said, "You know, I love this job. I get to meet all kinds of people such as y'all nice folks. I can't wait to get up and get to this bus in the morning." He wasn't talking for a tip, he really loved that bus and his job. Writing it doesn't sound funny; it was one of those things where you had to be there. It was a MountainWings Moment. Here was a job where most would be bored to death. The same five minute circle over and over all day long. The same bus, the same anxious, hurried, tired, and often rude passengers all day long. He was in heaven ? most would be in hell. This man had learned one of the great secrets of truly enjoying life. It was in the understanding that joy is not necessarily in the circumstances but in the viewpoint. He saw each passenger load as another opportunity to bring joy into a stranger's world. They most likely needed it. If there are angels walking and working among us, maybe they would be doing something like that. . . . . . and they would be loving it. The Kingdom of Heaven is truly within. ~A MountainWings Original~