Those Moose Pass Kids

Rainbow today at one end of Moose Pass.

I was sitting in an auto repair shop in Seward this morning, playing a word game on my Kindle.  In Bay 3, Kevin the mechanic was whispering sweet nothings to my truck. 

My truck loves Kevin.  My truck especially loves the words Kevin says to it, unlike the words I say to it.  My truck responds favorably to Kevin’s words.  This time, the little Dodge Durango shop queen had an idiot light glowing constantly.

Anyway, a fellow came into the office where I was trying to make a seven letter word out of “u, e, d, l, s, e, o” and 33 other words of less than seven letters.  He started talking with Sue, who runs the shop.   I wasn’t eavesdropping, really.  I couldn’t help but hear most of what they said because they were talking over me.

As most conversations do these days, the talk turned to weather and the comparative weather in various towns on the Kenai Peninsula.  They both agreed it rained more in Seward than Moose Pass or Homer.  Well, we don’t call it “Soggy Seward” for nothing.

They compared temperatures, and the man said his bus broke down once a few miles from where I live.  “It was 20 above in Seward and five below in Moose Pass.”  Works that way.  Moose Pass is in the mountains and at a higher elevation; Seward gets the maritime influence—warmer and wetter.

Then he remarked that he liked Moose Pass and said the Moose Pass kids were the nicest bunch that have ever been on his school bus.  He said he’s driven school buses many places, and he’s never had any problems with the kids from Moose Pass.

I smiled.  I thought about the kids around here I know.  I frequently hear about rewards they receive for their accomplishments.  I follow some of their comments on Facebook, how they’re out running or skiing or climbing mountains after school rather than slouched on a couch watching TV or gaming.

I thought about their parents—hard-working, dedicated, salt of the earth people, the kind you always see volunteering for local activities.

All the high school students have to go to Seward for school.  For some it’s 36 miles one way.  A lot of middle school kids go too.  For students kindergarten through 8^th grade, Moose Pass has a two-room school.

That’s a long bus ride for kids.  Nonetheless, what I was hearing was reaffirming that Moose Pass must be a fine place for raising kids.

Then the bus driver, after recounting how he had to write up kids in other towns, said, “I’ve never had to write up a kid from Moose Pass.  They get on the bus, say ‘Good morning,’ and go to sleep.”

Yep.  Even for teenagers, it's hard to get into trouble when you're sound asleep.

And another rainbow near the other end of Moose Pass.