About 30 years ago, I had a neighbor who worked in an office in suburban Baltimore. He used to chide me regularly about my "easy" job, how it must be nice to sleep at work and get paid to watch television. (At the time, my West Baltimore engine was responding to more than 3300 calls per year.) I used to laugh it off...
Then, in the fall of 1985, a friend and colleague was killed in the line of duty in a dwelling fire. Not long after his death, my neighbor saw me in passing and started to say something smart about how easy it is to be a firefighter. I spun around and just about bit his head off.
I said: "Bill, you're right! Once in a while I do get to take a little nap during my 14 hour night shifts, and occasionally I can even eat dinner without being interrupted by calls. But the REAL difference between my job and yours is that when I leave for work, and kiss my wife and kids goodbye, I'm always aware that it might really BE goodbye! The only way YOU'RE not coming home is if you're involved in a traffic accident!"
Yesterday, two of my brothers in the Wilmington, Delaware Fire Department said goodbye to their families as they left for work...and it really was goodbye. Please keep them, and their injured comrades, in your prayers. Thanks.
http://6abc.com/news/1-firefighter-dead-2-injured-in-wilmington-house-blaze/1524958/
Then, in the fall of 1985, a friend and colleague was killed in the line of duty in a dwelling fire. Not long after his death, my neighbor saw me in passing and started to say something smart about how easy it is to be a firefighter. I spun around and just about bit his head off.
I said: "Bill, you're right! Once in a while I do get to take a little nap during my 14 hour night shifts, and occasionally I can even eat dinner without being interrupted by calls. But the REAL difference between my job and yours is that when I leave for work, and kiss my wife and kids goodbye, I'm always aware that it might really BE goodbye! The only way YOU'RE not coming home is if you're involved in a traffic accident!"
Yesterday, two of my brothers in the Wilmington, Delaware Fire Department said goodbye to their families as they left for work...and it really was goodbye. Please keep them, and their injured comrades, in your prayers. Thanks.
http://6abc.com/news/1-firefighter-dead-2-injured-in-wilmington-house-blaze/1524958/
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