Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.
The tone goes off at 2 in the morning and they are on their way to a wreck with entrapment.
__________________________
You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
They been awake for three days working at four different stations running calls all day and night and don't get to shower.
__________________________
You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
They get burned or trapped inside, or while cutting someone out of a car something flys off the car and injures them, or car explodes, or they get called to a medical call where someone was shot.
__________________________
You meet up with your friends at the camp and get drunk!
They respond to the unconscious people and the grass fire you started.
__________________________
You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
They kiss the maltese cross around their neck and say a prayer before they go in the burning building.
__________________________
You talk trash on your "buddies" that aren't with you.
they pray that their buddy next to them comes out alive and they watch out for each other..for they know the value of a true friend and are brothers and sisters for life.
__________________________
You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
They crawl around a pitch black, totally involved house fire searching for the old lady and her grandchild that didn't make it out.
__________________________
You complain about how hot it is.
they wear their heavy gear, not taking it off in the 900 degree heat and flames and therefore they appreciate the heat and learn to deal with it.
__________________________
You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
All they got was a MRE from a rehab truck because they only have a 10 minute break before they have to go back out and try to stop the three hundred acre grass fire from reaching any houses.
__________________________
Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
They wear the same things for days, but makes sure their trucks, gear, and equipment are clean.
__________________________
You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
They didn't have time to take a shower this morning because they got a four alarm fire.
__________________________
You call your girlfriend/boyfriend and set a date for that night.
they go sometimes weeks not going home or seeing the ones they love.
__________________________
You hug and kiss your girlfriend/boyfriend, like you do everyday.
THEY LOOK AT THE PICTURE THEY KEEP IN THEIR WALLET OR GEAR AND KISSES IT AND SAY BABY I PROMISE I'M COMING HOME SOON AND IF I DON'T, I LOVE YOU AND I JUST HOPE I DID EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO MAKE YOU HAPPY.
__________________________
You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
they sit on the curb with their buddies and kneel down and cry and say a prayer for the child that didnt make it.
__________________________
You criticize your local firestation because they got behind you and were holding down the airhorn trying to get you to get out of the way.
They pray even if you don't move out of the way that they can make it in time to save the people inside and maybe even the house.
__________________________
You hear firefighters joke around and say they are nothing but a bunch of jackasses.
They hear the tone and they are ready in a moments notice, its all fun when its just them and their buddies at the station playing around, once that tone goes off its all work and no play.
__________________________
You hear on the news some firefighters were laughing at a wreck and think they are assholes.
They see it as the only way not to cry out in front of everyone because someone didn't make it, was to tell a joke about one of their buddies.
__________________________
You stay at home and watch tv.
they take whatever time they are given to clean, eat, fix something at the station, cook, wash firetrucks, and then relax for 20 minutes and then has to go assist a medic unit with a collapsed patient.
__________________________
You crawl into your bed, with down pillows, and try to get comfortable.
they crawl into a single person bed with a stiff pillow and just a sheet at 4 in the morning to try and sleep until 6 before they they to go to their next shift at one of the other stations.
__________________________
You sit there and judge him, saying he is stupid for running into a burning building.
If only there were more men and women like US!
