At first glance most people think that Riding the Bus 1 is for people who ride the bus. That is far from the truth. The subtitle gives you three more clues about the content of my book: saving money dreams and inspiration. My book contains 101 inspirational and motivational poems that can help an individual get ahead in life simply by believing and moving forward, without giving up until the dream comes to total fruition. This book was given birth by the fall of the economy, my educational trips to Europe and my desire to write. When the economy began to fall in 2007 many people were caught by surprise. Very few people were ready to receive a cut in pay or worse, to be laid off from work with little hope of finding a job with decent pay. I was one of those victims of mishap and being unprepared for emergencies. For two years I tried to survive with zero dollars left at the end of each month. Nevertheless, I never gave up and I launched my non-profit organization to take my students on trips to Europe. At the end of my first educational trip in spring of 2010 I realized that I couldn't continue as usual. I began to reflect that while in Europe I never had the need to drive a car. I knew that the tires on my Tacoma were bare and if I continued driving under those conditions I could cause an accident. It was then that I decided that I would ride the bus to save money to buy tires. Little did I know that I would sell my car and ride the bus for following three years. Everything happened like a miracle. It was about the third week when I was dozing off on the bus and I opened my eyes to see Chase Bank right in front of me. At the time I was making 200 dollar payments on my wife's Chrysler van and I realized I had to cut back somewhere. Like a miracle, the sale of my Tacoma would be enough to pay off the van. In the following weeks I sold my truck, took the money to pay off the van and at the end of the second month I had 700 dollars left over. I took that money and I began paying off all my debts beginning with my smallest. Aided by a program called Transforming Debt into Wealth I began my journey to debt freedom. I had no idea that all these series of events would lead to the publication of my first book and many more to come. Miracles do happen; you just have to work them out. The following two poem show how I feel about the economy and the use of credit. I suspect that people have been led to believe that it is ok to spend more than they can afford. The use of credit is destroying the world. Credit is a giant that keeps growing and growing and someday he will be so big that there won't be enough money in the world to keep it satisfied. My poems are not just about the economy. I also give my views on family, education, and faith. Chase bank (14) Appropriate name for a bank that is chasing me for my money 200 dollars a month, their Chrysler if I stop paying, they take it away. Until I finish paying, the car is not mine they keep the pink slip for keepsake they don't care that I am paying almost twice as much as the original price. The bonus checks the CEO's got we paid them with our interest payments I don't want to be chased anymore I am paying off my Chrysler, no more credit. I'm selling my Tacoma, I truly own it take the money to pay off the Chrysler save money every month to buy a new car or just stay on my limo, M-Metro. Credit Card (16) Buy now, pay later. How much later? How much more? I need credit, For the things I have accomplished, For the things I have done. I don't need credit To charge things I can't afford. I want credit for spending money wisely. A credit card that says, "Accomplished teacher and educator, Accomplished father and husband". I am going to pay off All those credit cards that say I owe money to other people. I want a credit card That says, "Job well done!" I'm going to make me one.
About the Author: Luis Pástor Villalobos, author of Riding The Bus 1, has ventured into publishing inspirational poetry that has the potential to change the lives of people and catapult them into the next level of achievement. Mr. Villalobos has been teaching for 22 years to date. He believes that people can reach great heights even when all odds are against them. He tries to inspire his students to follow their dreams no matter the costs. He lives his life as a witness that great things can happen when an individual sets his/her mind to accomplish goals in life. One example of perseverance is the establishment of his 501 (c) 3 corporation at a time when the economy was at its worst. Mr. Villalobos teaches that it is during the toughest of times when heroes and heroines are born. Mr. Villalobos immigrated to the United States when he was ten to work in the farms of the Central Valley in California. He left his life in the City of Tijuana, Mexico to venture into an unknown world. He was greeted with racism, a language barrier and a dire economic situation. Nevertheless, from the very start, as a child, Mr. Villalobos set out to become successful and to make a difference. He hit the books hard and his desire to be trilingual set him on the path of French culture until he graduated from California State University, Stanislaus with a Bachelor of Arts in French and a Minor in Spanish. He continued his education in Southern California where he earned his teaching credential in French and Spanish. In 1992 this future author married his beautiful wife, Juana Inés Castellanos also an immigrant from Pihuamo, Jalisco Mexico. After giving birth to his first child, Tanya Celeste Villalobos, Mr. Villalobos decided that he would dedicate his life to the success of his daughter. Three and a half years later his son Luis Alberto Villalobos was born and Mr. Villalobos decided that he would stay home in the evenings to be a father and a husband. Working during the day and going to school in the evening can be very taxing on a family. Counting the costs, he saw more value in helping his children do well in school than a master's or a PhD.