I apologize to everyone for not being on here in forever. As I stated in my last post, I have been working a lot, and barely have time to see my kids, let alone have time to write on my blog. Be that as it may, i am gonna write today, because some things have happened in the past few weeks that have gotten to me. I feel bad since I haven't been able to run any fire calls lately. Oddly, most of them happen while I am at work. But there was a call that I am glad I didn't make it to: the accident that killed our Deputy Chief. Fran owned his own trash removal company along with two of his brothers. He was working on one of the trucks when the hydraulics failed on the back hatch, and it slammed shut, crushing and killing him instantly. I was here at work when I got the page, and the subsequent "everyone come to the firehouse" page. I had no clue about what had happened until the next morning, when my wife read the article on the front page of the newspaper. The man is a true legend. He had put in 51 years of volunteering as a firefighter, all with the same company. He has lived and worked in the same town his whole life. He volunteered his time at his church, and was always there to whoever needed him. I changed my work schedule so I could attend some of his funeral. I was honored enough to post as Honor guard for a brief time also. But the one thing I noticed that hit home with me was how many people showed up to pay their respects to the family, and honor such a heroic and courageous man. The viewing lasted for hours. He was given full honor ceremony, which meant the fire trucks had raised their ladders and hung an enormous flag between them, the local companies were there, and all of us were in our Dress Uniforms. (This is a truly beautiful sight to see, a full honored ceremony. If you ever have the sad occasion to attend one or see one, know the person is being sent of in the most amazingly respectful way we know how!) They amount of people showing up made me start to wonder. How many people would show up if something were to happen to me. Now I am not trying to be somber, but simply reflecting on my life so far. How big an impression have I made in the world? Would my viewing be hours or minutes? Or would it be the hours long event that no one came to? I have been a firefighter for almost 12 years now. But since I have moved so much, I have ran with 5 different companies. I don't want it to reflect poorly on me that I was moving around so much, I don't want people thinking I couldn't commit to one house or anything like that. Moving became necessary, and that is part of life I couldn't help. So what would the ceremony be for me? Would I rate a page three article about my life? I know I don't rate front page news, and I am ok with that. But where would I fall?
So, now having thought all this through, I have decided I need to make more of an impact in the world... I need to make sure that the lives I touch are gonna remember me, and I will make a good impression on them. Here's to hoping I have made a great impression on all 11 of you followers, whom I am lucky enough to have read this little blog! Thanks for your support, and I will post more often, I promise.
Thank you for the lovely description following such a sad tragedy. The story reminds me of a friend of ours. I'd never seen such a large turnout at a funeral. I imagine you've touched lives in ways you don't even realize. Making an effort is certainly a lofty goal. I hope your workload doesn't wear you out!
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