As a little boy, this was my greatest wish

June 4, 2022, at the age of 73 years and 29 days, my CV received this new addition. I listen to what politicians and civil servants say when they get new positions: I was humble, and my mind was filled with pride and great respect for the mission.

As a little boy, my biggest wish was to get a driver’s hood with a shiny shade and sit behind a big bus steering wheel.

I had my wish fulfilled as a student in Bergen exactly 49 years ago. During my studies, I maneuvered the yellow buses to Bergen Sporvei through narrow city center streets and out to the more peripheral bus stops. How nice it was to put the driver’s hood on your head and go to work at the weekends!

Same handsome feeling get one as a member of the BNR Veteran bus club. There is the Nesbøruta, with Scania model from 1969, as a flagship to be reckoned with. On Pentecost evening, the public transport ran on a commuter route between Mastrevik Torg via Kilestraumen Brygge, where it was market day, and to Mongstad. And I was entrusted with the assignment as a driver!

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Every time one travels with this bus, it arouses excitement. The passengers smile broadly, are just happy and remember times gone by. Especially those who traveled to and from school and work with this bus, or one similar, or to and from the boat, or when they were going on city trips. The bus is part of the roots that evoke good feelings and good memories of home, growing up, childhood and adult life as it once was.

“Take care on the Nesbøruta. This was my father’s bus”, someone writes as a comment when I show a picture of the bus on Facebook. Two others post a picture of naughty, punctual, uniformed drivers on this particular carriage.

The bus company that was established locally around 100 years ago and beyond, was an important part of the job of building the country and the welfare society. The villagers stood as owners. There was great respect from buses, goods vehicles, taxis and the workers as well. Today, the old companies are gone. A tender system without the share has taken over.

The person who today sits behind the wheel of the veteran bus “Nesbøruta” is a last remnant of the old tradition. At least that’s how I know it, and I’m updating my CV. A new crown for life’s work.

We are both well past retirement age, both bus and driver, but we enjoy life. Pensioners do not need to be out of date.

The text is one of the contributions to BT’s writing competition “The picture on my mobile”. More contributions will appear in the newspaper in the future.