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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter
Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...March 13, 2009
Amazing things can happen on Friday the 13th. Since the last Friday the 13th, I've thought of the day as a good luck day. Today was one of those days.
It started by visiting a very kind penpal who lives nearby and who has an adopted son who is now grown-up. His situation was a bit different than ours, with our adoptions being private and hers through foster care. It's interesting how times have changed.
Next, I had to go to my son's middle school conference. I had to explain the gory details of our two year ordeal with my daughter and set realistic goals and punishments for my 11 year old. We were all on board. What I had dreaded had actually turned into a good meeting and I was feeling pretty positive.
Then I went home and received a job offer. I wanted to think about it since the salary is below what I was wanting, and the job wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but it is a complement to my real estate business. Two minutes later, I received a call for my dream job. It was from DYFS to be a trainer on foster care and adoption. I have been a trainer, and a public speaker and advocate for adoption, especially when we lived on Long Island and when the kids were young.
I then got a call to write a contract on land I just listed in Roselle Park. Not even 24 hours on the market! Who could ask for more. Yet there is more.
Lastly, I had to make my way over to the Morris Township Fire Department office, where I visited my favorite person, GW. It always lifts my spirits to talk to her since her stories are the most fascinating ones I have heard. My trip there was to return my probie helmet and tags. My husband has had a problem with me becoming a firefighter all along, and I had to make the promise when I decided to finish the Academy that I wouldn't go into a structure fire. We have no one to take care of our kids if something should happen to me. So I am a green tag, SCBA certified, but one who does everything else but so to speak.
So I had to give in my red tags and helmet and I was soooooooo sad. So sad because after a year and a half, I bonded with that helmet. My 5 on my tag was my mother's favorite number, and for those of you who have kept up with my blog know that firemen saving my mom's life was one of the reasons I joined the fire department in the first place.
The other day a very good friend at our 4 o'clock club asked what made me sign up. Well, it was all the signs around the town asking for volunteers. Funny thing is after I signed up I didn't see the signs anymore. In my own silly way, maybe I think they were there for me.
So now I have a shiny black helmet which will most likely get a red shield on the front to stop MYSELF from doing what my husband asked me not to do. Brand new out of the box. I really really wanted to keep my tags though, just for memory's sake. But the picture I took outside the office will just have to do. And my promise, well you never know. Do you?
Amazing things can happen on Friday the 13th. Since the last Friday the 13th, I've thought of the day as a good luck day. Today was one of those days.
It started by visiting a very kind penpal who lives nearby and who has an adopted son who is now grown-up. His situation was a bit different than ours, with our adoptions being private and hers through foster care. It's interesting how times have changed.
Next, I had to go to my son's middle school conference. I had to explain the gory details of our two year ordeal with my daughter and set realistic goals and punishments for my 11 year old. We were all on board. What I had dreaded had actually turned into a good meeting and I was feeling pretty positive.
Then I went home and received a job offer. I wanted to think about it since the salary is below what I was wanting, and the job wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but it is a complement to my real estate business. Two minutes later, I received a call for my dream job. It was from DYFS to be a trainer on foster care and adoption. I have been a trainer, and a public speaker and advocate for adoption, especially when we lived on Long Island and when the kids were young.
I then got a call to write a contract on land I just listed in Roselle Park. Not even 24 hours on the market! Who could ask for more. Yet there is more.
Lastly, I had to make my way over to the Morris Township Fire Department office, where I visited my favorite person, GW. It always lifts my spirits to talk to her since her stories are the most fascinating ones I have heard. My trip there was to return my probie helmet and tags. My husband has had a problem with me becoming a firefighter all along, and I had to make the promise when I decided to finish the Academy that I wouldn't go into a structure fire. We have no one to take care of our kids if something should happen to me. So I am a green tag, SCBA certified, but one who does everything else but so to speak.
So I had to give in my red tags and helmet and I was soooooooo sad. So sad because after a year and a half, I bonded with that helmet. My 5 on my tag was my mother's favorite number, and for those of you who have kept up with my blog know that firemen saving my mom's life was one of the reasons I joined the fire department in the first place.
The other day a very good friend at our 4 o'clock club asked what made me sign up. Well, it was all the signs around the town asking for volunteers. Funny thing is after I signed up I didn't see the signs anymore. In my own silly way, maybe I think they were there for me.
So now I have a shiny black helmet which will most likely get a red shield on the front to stop MYSELF from doing what my husband asked me not to do. Brand new out of the box. I really really wanted to keep my tags though, just for memory's sake. But the picture I took outside the office will just have to do. And my promise, well you never know. Do you?
Add a Comment
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Comment by Denise Imperiale on March 21, 2009 at 7:30pm
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Hi Christopher, good luck on your interview and the dispatcher position. Which one would you like the most? Just curious. It seems like they are two very different professions. Thank you for commenting on my blogs, for real. No one here knows about me blogging because I like to keep myself private. But my comments are so encouraging, knowing I'm not alone. Thanks again and have a great weekend, Denise
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Comment by Christopher Smith on March 21, 2009 at 7:24pm
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Hi Denise,
That is truly great news and I hope the full time job with that comapny comes to fruition. Having the brother/sisterhood that we belong to can really make a difference when it comes to networking. I too might be getting a job with another boatbuilder through one of the guys in our department, since my last boatbuilding job laid me off due to lack of work. It turns out that his cabinetry business does a lot of work for the boatbuilder, and he recommended me to him, so I'm going in for an interview sometime this comming week. I also applied to be a 911 dispatcher in the next county down from me, so hopefully one of these positions will hire me and I'll be back to work.
I love your blogs and enjoy reading them, as well as adding my two cents worth of thought to them! Enjoy your weekend as well, mine is spent in class for NIMS300 and the chief engineer has decided that we need to have a refresher on pumping to the ladder truck on Sunday, so I'm keeping busy.
Take Care and Stay Safe!
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Hi Christopher, guess what? You know how we talked about the Secret? Well, I have wanted to work with a company for a long time. At least 5 recruiters sent them my resume and I never got chosen. The other day, I got a call from someone who is on a local volunteer fire department and he asked me to come in for an interview. He is a subcontractor of that first company. And I'm getting the job. Contractual at first...but you know I kind of grow on people so I am sure I will get a full-time job with them at some point. Besides being a realtor of course. Have a nice weekend!!! And I love your comments. Denise
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Denise,
Here's a different spin on my last comment. Maybe your dream job really isn't working with troubled people since you have that situation already, trust your gut instinct and as the saying goes "Do what you love and Love what you do"! If you love being a firefighter and are qualified to do the job, tell your husband that is your passion, and you wish to continue doing the job. Ask him if were let go from his job today, God forbid that should happen to him, what would his next position be? Would he want a job where he is comfortable and unchallenged or would he want a position where he is challenged every day! I know that we, as firefighters, liked to be challeged every day and no scene we respond to is the same as the last one we were on. So if he loves you, he should accept the fact that you are qualified and willing to do the job that many others would run away from! If you subscribe to the "The Secret List" and see those who have given their lives for the sake of others, you and your husband will know that you belong to a select group of people. Those who are willing to give their all for the sake of others, no matter what the cost Be proud and hold your head high because you are one of the few who would willingly go into a fire where others are running out!!!
Take Care and Stay Safe!
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Hi Trouble,
Interesting note...I thought the job I was going on was my dream job until I realized that working with troubled people would not give me a break since I have a troubled child at home. I think I need some happiness to work around, if you know what I mean. My husband? He will never understand; although I would understand if he left his job and got a job in the NBA! Have a great day!
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Comment by trouble on March 18, 2009 at 10:46pm
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Wow, I guess that is a good compromise between you and your husband, (but you don't kow what your missing). I think I would go insane if my husband told me I could'nt go into a fire anymore. Luckily he understands, and anyway, I was doing this before we met,hee hee. Congratulations on your dream job, those are always the best!
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That is such a cool story!!!!!!!
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Comment by Guerrerita on March 14, 2009 at 4:56pm
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Hi, Denise:
Sorry about your helmet! My father reminds me often that there are plenty of other peope capable and willing to do this job, and while I know that to be true (the graveyard is full of indispensible people, as the saying goes) I do it because I want to. I can definitely relate to your stories of juggling work, kids and volunteer work. Kudos on the new job. And it's good to see you're pursuing what you want, even when you've been very involved in caring for your kids in an unusually difficult situation. Us moms can sometimes feel guilty about that; I admire your ability to keep things even! (Oh, and I bet the sign was for you only. I could tell you "sign stories" of my own (signs that were just for me, lol), but they'd haul me away if I did! Well - I'll share this one: Riding in the car with my son, we found an awesome parking space. I said to my son: "Wow, whom do we have to thank for this spot!!" And then we noticed that the vanity license plate of the car pulling out of the spot said "Jesus." :)
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Hi Christopher and Jeff, thank you so much for the kind words. I always say I wish I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up. When I got the call yesterday for my interview on Monday it was the first time I didn't get a stomach ache. Guess you can never take the teenager out of the woman so to speak. I will let you know how Monday goes, keep your fingers crossed!!! I was looking at the things I have to teach and I've dealt with at least 4 of the issues with my kids. So maybe it's meant to be.
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Comment by Jeff Pearson on March 13, 2009 at 10:57pm
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Glad to hear things are looking up for you. You've had hard times and now its time to enjoy the better things. Just read your stories and see how lucky I truelly am. Hope things continue to get better for you. As far as the helmet goes, I could never give mine up. I'll die an old man and still be a member. Just something to remind your husband of, if all firefighters with kids gave up going inside.....who's going to save the kids trapped inside the structure.
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