The Bus Driver

One student in my class told me something today that made me realize my old age is just around the corner.  Well, I am already knocking on 40's door, but I mean REALLY old age is not that far away.

The kids in our school are keeping track of how they get to school each day for a set of weeks.  Each child is graphing this data on an individual ticket attached to their knapsacks. Because it is Kindergarten you have to help the kids complete the graph each day.  As I helped one boy he said to me, "I ride the bus, but my bus driver needs a lot of substitutes."

This was puzzling to me.  Why would his bus driver need a lot of substitutes.  So, I figure I will ask, "Why?" (Always a good one when you want to know more, eh?)

Child: "Because his skin is trying to get wrinkly and saggy and make him old.  He can't drive the bus very good anymore."

Then I wondered what he must think of me and my age.  We have talked about my age in class before.  The kids used to guess I was in my 50's as a general rule, even when I was a new teacher at 23 years old.  After a quick check in the mirror I saw the crows feet by my eyes and thought it is only a matter of time before I will need a lot of substitutes for the same reason as the bus driver.