The call came in as an ill person, which in an Emergency workers eyes can mean almost anything! It can range from an actual ill person, to a multiple shooting, and NO I AM NOT KIDDING!!!…….. …My partner Tim walked to the front door, saying “Fire dept” loudly over and over again, in an effort to get someone’s attention. No answer, we walked to the door, Tim knocked on the front door with the flashlight,…he shined his light in the front window…. A guttural scream is one that comes from your feet and works its way up to your mouth, all the while gathering momentum and strength……. Tim’s scream caught me by surprise, I did not see the mans face in the window until I was on my way down from apparently trying to jump to the roof of the house to get away from the danger that Tim had obviously faced…From my point of view, I was about to be killed by a madman with an AXE! After, peeling parts of the side of the building off with my fingers and shoes, in my effort to avoid death. I came back to rest on the front porch… I looked and the disfigured man in the window…. His ears were gone, eyelids rebuilt… She was really weak and exhausted, the tables were now turned, and he now was her caretaker, …….. this Son was going to take care of his Mom, no nursing home for her. They would take care of each other until death claimed one of them!

Another sleepless night at work! As I check Facebook tonight I realize that My Daughters interest in facebook caused me to sign up and in doing so I am really glad I did. I now actually look forward to seeing and watching all of my Fire dept children grow up here on Facebook! Now as I look on facebook and around the Fire Depts. in the area, I actually see so many young faces I have seen years ago when they were 5 – 10 years younger. Well, now they are experienced and all grown up, out there saving lives! I honestly can say I am proud of the generation of young people we have in our area, especially the  ones I have watched grow, watched them mature and now see them in a different light, I see them as equals, as my peers, they may never be able to match my experience, but give them 30 years or so! Some of them have vastly surpassed my knowledge base and are still learning, makes me wish I was young again.

Learning is much easier now; the internet has made classes way more accessible and convenient. I see a future full of bright intelligent people leading the Fire / EMS service to new heights. In my limited 30 years of service, I have seen so many changes; just think about what the future holds for the new guys. Field surgery, stitches on scene, meds prescribed for infections, who the hell knows?? All I know for sure is that, your future is wide open, grab it and go, make your own future. That’s right, make it your self, don’t wait on anyone else to do it for you, or you will be left on the side watching others, don’t watch, DO! Make your future, do whatever you like to do and do it well!

Just be positive, that can make all of the difference in the world, it can make or break relationships, careers, friendships, well plainly put if affects everything and everyone you come into contact with. So do it with a smile! It makes the time go by faster; just trust me on that one! I still love my job; the nay Sayers can just kiss my ass!! Oppps, slipped a little!!LOL

Smile and bring something positive into a patients house, for it is their home, and like it or not they have literally invited you into their world, so smile and treat them with respect, hopefully they will do the same!

Love and kisses, and good night to all. Please be safe and remember to love your friends and family, love hard, love often, love unconditionally. Tell them you love them every day, for trust me, they may not be here tomorrow!  No one warned me, I learned the hard way; it was not an easy lesson!