It may take you two minutes to read this, but if you do not take the time to read this you are one of the people this post is talking about.

You stay up for 16 hours

He's been up for 48 strait
(that's a little bit exhaggerated, very unlikely under normal circumstances, but it can take hours at a fire scene depending on how bad, to finish the job and do the clean up after)
_________________________

You take a warm shower to help you wake up.

The rain in the middle of the interstate keeps him awake.
__________________________

You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.

He's chilled to the bone, hasnt eaten all day, has the flu, and then runs into a burning building
__________________________

You drink your coffee on your way to the mall.

He pumps on a five years olds chest on the way to the hospital.
(most likely an EMT would do that, but many fireman are EMT's as well)
__________________________

You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.

He makes sure the pass device on his pack is working.
__________________________

You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.

He watches his buddy fall through four floors.
__________________________

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.

He walks down the highway looking for the motorcyclist missing limb.
_________________________

You complain about how hot it is.

He wears 75 pounds of gear in the middle of july and drags a body out of 1600 degree flames.
(that's the turnout gear and air pack - that does NOT include tools, and other additional items being carried)
__________________________

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.

He hasnt seen a meal since last shift at breakfast.
__________________________

Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.

Hes worn the same stinking, wet, grungy clothes for the past 24 hours....no time for a shower.
__________________________

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.

He holds the hair of some college girl while shes puking in the back of the ambo.
__________________________

You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.

His shift ended 2 hours ago and he on for another 24 hours at a station thirty miles away.

__________________________

You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.

*****He calls his girlfriend to tell her he make it back alive....then leaves abrubtly for another fire.******
__________________________

You yell and scream at the engine that just past you beacuse they slowed you down.

Hes in the back of the engine, going to cut somebody out of their car only to find out that their dead and their daughter is barely alive.
(every second counts when it comes to traffic)
__________________________

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.

He cries as he hears his new born cry in the hospital....but he was taking a drunk teenager in when his boy was born.
__________________________

You criticize your fire dept and say their never there quick enough anyways.

He blows the air horn while the person in front of them refuses to move while talking on their cell phone and doing their makeup.
__________________________

You hear the jokes about fallen firefighters and say they should have known better.

He feels the floor give way while hes carrying an old lady from her bedroom and tosses on to the hard floor and falls into the unknown.
__________________________

You see the bright lights when you go by.

He sees the broken bodies lying around the car.
__________________________

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.

He looks into buying a bullet proof vest because he been shot at trying to save the shooting victims life.
(that's why fireman by law can't ride on the outside or back of firetrucks anymore. in some major cities, particularly in crime ridden areas, people would throw things at them as they drove by, sometimes even shooting at them)
__________________________

You stay at home and watch TV.

He takes his spare time to wash the truck, restock the ambo and maybe call his mother to tell her not to worry, he'll be home the next night
__________________________

You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.

He tries to sleep on his spring board bed but keeps getting woken up by the gong and bell, ahh, one hour of sleep, it should due till tommorow night.
__________________________

You sit there and judge him, saying the that its a waste of money to have them around.

Garbage truck workers make more than he does, but its not for the money, its for the people who dont appreciate what he does.
___________________________

You call your loved one and tell them your going to be a little late for dinner, work held you up.

He calls his loved one after working a 24 hour shift to tell her that hes about to go into a burning building, pray for him, that he loves her and hopes he makes it home to at least spend some time with her. he then apologizes for being late.