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January 28, 2002 - A Firefighter's Story, Part 3
Welcome to 2TheHeart!
"Don't wait for your next lifetime. Live life now."
~Unknown
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After the events of September 11th, many of us became acutely aware of firefighters and their great dedication to their jobs. There is none other like the brotherhood of firefighters, and Charles' Parts 1, 2 & now Part 3 show the serious, heartbreaking, and sometimes
humorous aspect of this career.
"Firefighter's Story" Part III
by Charles Farrell
The Demise of the Fire House Mouse
When I arrived, the mouse was already a legend. We could hear his presence but could never catch him. One morning when I reported for work, I found a line formed outside of the bunkroom. At the end of the line I saw one of the brothers knelling over a matchbox half open. The matchbox was made over to look like a coffin. There was the legend, stiff as a board, lying in the cotton filled coffin, I mean match box. They even made little cards expressing grief. One card read "Good" signed the Cat. Another "Rest in Cheese".
Renovating the Firehouse
The firehouse building was very old and in great need of repair. In the summer we would barbecue in the back of the building where the building wall was ready to collapse. We had an old refrigerator that someone had thrown out and we affectionately called "Herby." We had it for years, never took care of it, and it was outside throughout the winter rain and snow. It had a loud hum but like the Timex watch it kept on going.
We use to joke that someday the wall would collapse burying us All and all that could be heard was Herby humming. Finally the Powers to be thought it were time for the building to be renovated. The
firehouse occupied three companies, an Engine and Ladder Company and a Battalion Chief. They were able to relocate the Ladder Company and the Chief, however the Engine Company had to remain in quarters during the renovation.
As the renovation progressed, the living conditions worsened. One of the brothers who lived on the East end of Long Island obtained a baby pig to live with us as our mascot, telling the powers to be that we were living in a pig's pen. We set up a pig's pen in the back of the apparatus floor with cinder blocks from the construction material on the premise. We had to feed the pig and walk it in the morning.
The feeding was easy, he ate all our leftovers and seemed to enjoy the food although he insisting on sitting on his food while eating. One brother in particular loved to walk the pig on a leash in the morning when people were walking by the firehouse on their way to take the subway to work. People were never sure what breed of dog they were seeing. When the mailman came in the morning one of the brothers asked him if he knew anything about dogs? He replied "a little." "Good said the brother, come in the back and look at this dog someone gave us to keep."
It was in the winter and the pig was coiled up sleeping next to a radiator. The pig's eyes were closed and the mailman's eyes were wide open trying to figure out what was with this dog. As the pig opened Its large eyes that took up most of its face the mailman yelled "That's no dog"! "That's a Pig." The brother could not stop laughing. It didn't take long before the Chief found the pig and we had to transfer him to a farm.
WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO...YOU HAVE TO GO
The building was two stories with the apparatus on the ground floor and the kitchen, eating area, TV room, sleeping quarters, bathrooms, and office space all on the second floor. While they were renovating the bathrooms on the second floor, we used a small toilet in the back of the apparatus floor. One night tour, we found that the construction workers removed the apparatus toilet during the day leaving us no where to relieve ourselves on that 15 hour night tour. There was a large empty hole where the toilet was located.
It didn't take long before one of the brothers decided to construct an artificial turd. That's right a piece of artificial you-know-what! He used every thing imaginable in the cupboard, from flower to food coloring, winding down with a few kernels of corn. Ugh! He strategically placed the artificial turd next to the hole in the floor. When the Captain came on duty at the start of the next day tour he immediately went to the toilet to do his thing.
When he saw the toilet was removed, he questioned why? Then, as his eyes came across the "creation" on the floor he shouted. "Who did this"? "It must have been one of the construction workers", one of the brothers said. "Don't touch it," the Captain grunted. "Leave it until 9 AM when I question the construction foreman." "I want him to see this." Than his imagination took over as he said "Geez - It Stinks!"
At 9 AM he could not wait to question the construction foreman. "Do you see this?" he shouted. "What kind of animal would do this?" As the foreman meticulously studied the artificial turd, he finally
said, "That's not one of my men's." The captain quickly replied "You mean to tell me that you would know your men's (bleep) when you see it?!" It took at least ten minutes before the brothers stopped
laughing.
These are the stories firefighter's reminisce about at reunions. The tragic stories are put away in our subconscious but are never forgotten.
Charles Farrell copyright 2001
cfroe56@aol.com
Charles wrote "A Firefighter's Story" Parts 1 & 2, which are found in our archives - you have to read them all! To see a photo of this handsome writer and his beautiful family, visit "Today's Story" page on 2theheart: www.2theheart.com/today_s_story
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The Letter Box:
2theheart,
God bless Sue for going out of her way to make a dying man happy. I could just picture her squirming @ the minnows, & "sweating like a pig" coming up that hill. Sue you did such a great job describing this, that it gave me laughter & tears. Something tells me you were taking him fishing with or without your employers permission. You deserve a gold star for your TLC!
God bless you,
~April
APRILATOZ@cs.com
Dear Susan,
Please convey my thanks to anyone who wrote concerning my story. It has been a really tough week and my then computer crashed on Friday. I'm hoping to get back on line soon. I'm writing from my email address on a friend's computer...thank the Good LORD!
God bless,
Love,
Sue Henley
doupray2@charter.net
2theheart,
Sue Henley has the greatest of talents (Saying Goodbye.....) - she cares about people - enough to ask 'Are you afraid to die.....'. Which gave Mr Denny the opportunity to talk and share his feelings and then get up the courage to say his goodbyes to the ones who mattered in his life.
Please, please, please, everyone, don't wait until its goodbye time. Tell your loved ones how you feel NOW. You won't regret it and it will make everyone's life so much happier, including yours.
~Margaret
Yorkshire, England
m.drysdale@lineone.net
Sue,
You have done a masterful job (as always) of describing Mr. Denny's last days and the fun you two experienced on your fishing excursion. I wish I had your stamina (and sense of humor!). Obviously, you possess a tremendous amount of compassion and wisdom, as well, and both Mr. Denny and his wife were very lucky to have you in their lives during his last months on earth. You were a true blessing to them--and to the 2theHeart family who have been enriched by your story.
God bless you!
Deb Simmons
simmons@pathwaynet.com
Dear Sue,
I can't quote the exact scripture to you...but you'll know the
passage I mean......the one where Jesus casts his net and catches all the fish and feeds the masses....it occurred to me..that "your" fisherman...cast his net, also....so to speak....and fed the
masses ...thru your story..... (manna from heaven)another example of God putting people exactly where they need to be...when they need to be there...I have learned so much about what LOVE is thru mypatients....each and everyone has been a blessing...Our program ended in Dec of 2000.....and I miss it so much....I am currently working in a long term care facility....which is almost as good as home care.....still can't do the one on one...like you can in a home setting tho.....I really miss that.....Your story was great, Sue - very moving. He didn't just say goodbye to a village......He said that and alot more to all of us who read your story....
Be Blessed
~Sandy Smith
homergrl@yahoo.com
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