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?