Blogger’s Note: The following is my submission to the Fire Critic’s First Due Fire Blog Carnival focusing on the topic: “I’m a firefighter because…”
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My mother died from lung cancer when I was thirteen years old.
Now, that’s something I don’t wish on anyone, but I can certainly point to positive points of my character that can be attributed to that single tragic event in my life. My responsibility, resiliency, work ethic, and my servant attitude are all credits to my mother and the fact that I lost her so early in my childhood – all characteristics that would prove to be pivotal throughout my career, especially in the fire service.
Unbeknownst to me, my mother kept a keepsake box for several of the eight kids in my family. My father gave me mine shortly after she died. I still have it and have continued that family tradition with our kids.
Amongst many other treasures in that box were two cards and a hand-made book that may have forecasted where I would be today.
The first card was to my parents congratulating them when I was born. The card was from the Evans Center Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary. Today, I celebrate my twenty-ninth year with that very same fire department. (more…)
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