I'm hot. And I don't mean like, I'm a looker. I mean, I'm peeved. Beyond peeved. It all started two weeks ago. I was putting Connor on the bus - which picks him up at my doorstep basically. He had just gotten on the bus, when the impatient dickhead behind the bus, decides to, not only break the law and go around a bus w/ it's reds on, BUT, decided to pass the bus on THE PASSNENGER SIDE. Where I am standing & where my son was just standing. I stared him down as he was driving by & took his tag number. The bus pulls away & I immediately call this mo fo in. Ok. That was that.
Today.....I'm putting Connor on the bus. He climbs in, the bus aide is buckling him in. My huzzy, hoochie neighbor from across the street and a few doors down STARTS BEEPING THE HORN, then passes the bus. And yes, the lights are on, the Stop sign is extended. WTF?!?!?!?! The bus driver jots down the tag number & asks if I'm going to call it in. Yes. I sure as hell am going to call it in. I promptly do so.
The dispatcher is the same one I got with my last call. He asks me if it is the same car as before. I tell him no. That it is, in fact, my neighbor. He tells me they'll put a bulletin out. I said, "Thank you. But sir, if you don't mind telling me....what happens if the car is not caught from the bulletin? Does anything happen? Is a warning sent to the driver?" He said, "Unfortunately no. But you can go to the Justice of the Peace court and press charges." I thank him very much and hang up.
And now I sit here and stew. I don't want to be a bitch. HOWEVER, if I can't feel safe putting my child on the bus in front of my own house, then, where can I feel safe? And the law in our state is that passing a bus with the reds on is breaking the law. So, what is the point of the law existing if, you have a concerned parent call it in, but you can't even send a warning in the mail? I understand we're not talking about Capital Murder, but still. These are children & their safety should mean something.
What also bothers me is that, and I know she doesn't know this, but these are preschoolers who either have to be harnessed in or buckled into their 'car seat'. It's not like he hops on the bus & the bus driver takes off. It's a process. And the bottom-line is that it's a bus & they are children.
So, I called Bryan at work to rant & rave about this idiot today. And that I wanted to walk over to their house & have a come to Jesus talk. He told me I can't go over there by myself. The more he tells me I shouldn't go, the more it makes me want to walk over there. I'm not going to get all in her face. I just want to give her a lesson in awareness. I have not, as yet, walked over there. It's all I can do not to. I'm trying t be strong.
I'm left now, with the only other option of going into the Justice of the Peace Court and pressing charges. I'm not sure if I should. I mean, that makes me out to be a nutter, right? But I've been told that bus driver's don't want to call these cars in because if they're caught, they have to take unpaid time off of work to go to court. And obvioulsy, calling these people in means nothing. So, that is my option. To take legal action. I mean, I'm talking about the safety of children. And yes, my going to press charges isn't going to make this whole problem go away. But at least I'd know that I did my part when I was directly involved.
Am I crazy for wanting to do so? I could take the path of least resistance. And say, "I'll miss class, I'll wait forever in the Court. It'll probably be a waste of time." Not to mention, isn't it going against my whole philosophy of tolerance & being peaceful? Why am I making this so difficult? And refresh my memory...didn't I just say something about fighting for things that are worth fighting for? Is this one worth fighting for - or am I just looking for a fight?
About me
- Tabba
- A wife, a mother, a friend. A lover of music, beautiful things, simple things, weighty things, a thinker, a wanderer, a student, and a fiesty fireball. A woman who is all of those things and more. A woman who is trying to matter, and who is trying to leave little more than her footprints behind and a legacy of hope, goodness, and sass behind her in her wake and in the hearts of her two kids. This is just the beginning. Are you ready for the rest of the ride?
10 ripples in the pond:
She is your neighbor... so, I think in the spirit of neighborliness, you need to talk to her. I do think you should wait until you aren't so hot though... wait until you can be calm, etc.
I agree, you should talk to her & have your say, but you probably would achieve more if you do it calmly. It doesn't sound like you can be calm just yet!
You definately need to address it though. As you say, what's the point of laws if people just ignore them, particularly when child safety is involved.
Right after Connor & Bryan came home, I suggested to Bry that I go over & apologize if she was in a rush, but explain why it takes us so long to get going. I think based on what we know of that 'family' Bry is not too thrilled with me going over there period. In a peaceful, friendly way or not. We've never had any interaction with them & all we've seen of that whole family is a bunch of domestic situations (bad ones). So, I'm on the fence. I agree now that I'm calm that I'd like to address it. I just don't know that I would leave there in one piece.
I'm with you - you don't have to get all in her face and start the neck-roll but, she/he needs to be aware that children are in the area and, with that, everybody needs to be more careful of their actions, more tolerant of the extra time it takes to do so, and overall, be safe! But definitely wait until you're a little more calm - or else you'll just have a neighbor you'll regret living across from.
And, I know it seems petty for you to be all riled up over but obviously nobody other than those of us who have children feels it's a fight worth sticking up for. I say, "Go for it!"
My first time here, I'll be back for more!
I'm with you - you don't have to get all in her face and start the neck-roll but, she/he needs to be aware that children are in the area and, with that, everybody needs to be more careful of their actions, more tolerant of the extra time it takes to do so, and overall, be safe! But definitely wait until you're a little more calm - or else you'll just have a neighbor you'll regret living across from.
And, I know it seems petty for you to be all riled up over but obviously nobody other than those of us who have children feels it's a fight worth sticking up for. I say, "Go for it!"
My first time here, I'll be back for more!
In a perfect world, you are all right. But in our neighborhood, there are no white picket fences. I think Tabba failed to mention that this home is full of ghetto rats, and thugs. We have witnessed physical domestic altercations at this house, involving the girl that Tab wants to "speak" to. As a law enforcement officer, I agree that something needs to be done. But the family in question is not going to take Tab coming over there, no matter how calm she is, the right way.
ghetto rats and thugs.
still, tab is a tigress, and she must protect her brood.
tread carefully, but stand up for what you know is right.
Boy this is a toughie. I don't blame you one bit for wanting to follow through with this and I do NOT think you are just looking for a fight.
But dealing with people like these isn't easy. We had a family like that in our neighborhood when I was growing up and we always just stayed far far away from them. The cops were over there often enough without us turning them in for anything.
I would heed your Rav's advice though. You might actually make things worse by going over there. Most people are not confrontational and take any confrontation badly. Maybe you should go stand in the middle of the street while Connor is getting on the bus so she CAN'T pass. Be all Black Knight, "NONE SHALL PASS!" No, she'll just gladly run you over. Never mind.
We'll really have to think about this one...
Pippa, I always knew you were a genius.
What if you were to write a letter...and knowing these people, tell them that perhaps they don't understand the dangers involved, but it is your responsibility to protect your child, and the bus driver's responsibility to protect the children, and if drivers pass while the light is on and the sign is up, either the driver or you will go to the justice of the peace and make a formal complaint. I do understand that the driver won't do this, but it might be better for you if the neighbor thinks they will. Just my thoughts. A letter doesn't get you in their doorway, in harms way of ghetto rats and thugs.
Post a Comment