I Remember

It is September 11, 2013, and I just finished participating in an installation run here at Fort Meade to honor those who lost their lives these 12 years ago.

I'll never forget being a sleep in Japan as it was the middle of the night. I was awakened by my mom calling to tell me that a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers. Thinking it was an accident, that a small Cesna or something had accidentally hit the building, I said goodnight to her and went back to bed. It wasn't until about midnight (Japan time) or so on September 12 when we were called and told to report to work that I suddenly realized something was terribly wrong.

At this time, Kadena Airbase was not lonely locked down in then Threatcon Delta, but Okinawa was getting hit with a typhoon that had hit us only a couple of days earlier before turning around and slamming into us again.

I remember that we were unable to get the Armed Forces Network on the TVs at work. We had to watch the events unfold live on Japanese TV. By the time I got to my office, the second plane had already hit, but both towers were still standing. We tried to get some work done, but we were glued to the TV. 

Then it happened. The first tower began to collapse in a pile of rubble. A short time later the second tower fell. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. These proud and mighty symbols of NYC and our country were gone. I grew up near these, and on clear days it was not uncommon to see them from the northern part of the Jersey shore where I grew up.

Then it hit me. My father used to work at the WTC 2-3 times a week. I felt my heart drop, and I began frantically trying to call him. I couldn't get a hold of him on his cell a first and began to grow increasingly worried. Finally, after the third try, I was able to reach him. He had decided to work from home that day instead of going to the WTC.

God spared me loss on that day, but my father was not so fortunate. He had many friends in the firm Cantor Fitzgerald that had an office in the towers. In the span of two weeks, my father had attended 13 funerals for friends, some for people he had known since elementary school.

I remember thinking when I finally arrived back in the states in December of that year that the country was a very different place then when I left for Japan in 1999.

Today, I also think about and pray for my best friend, Jason. Jason was in Manhattan on that terrible day and was forced to walk to Brooklyn to escape the chaos. He is a 9/11 survivor.

I pray for comfort for him and his family as they remember a father, brother and uncle. Firefighter Thomas Sabella of Ladder 13 died along with 342 of his brothers when the towers collapsed. I pray for the family of those fallen heroes.

I pray for the families and friend of all the victims on this day, but my brothers in bunker gear will always hold a special place in my heart.

As I go about today, it is my fervent prayer that I will not only remember those fallen, but that I will do whatever I can to help honor their memory.

Waxing Poetic

Poetry is normally not my thing. It is not that I do not like it. I've just never been very good at writing it. Every now and again though, I'll have a nugget or two that will escape the gray matter rattling around in my skull (see post entitled, A Couple of Poems).

Yesterday was one of those rare moments. I was having lunch with Kristin at The Bakery in Farmville, VA when I snapped the photo below.



While thinking of a title for the photo, a thought came to me of someone walking into restaurant and asking for "a table for none" and then walking out. It was at that moment that the poem came to me...

A table for none
No reservation needed
The time has come to be gone
The traveler's call must be heeded

Experience sustains me
Knowledge quenches my thirst
I await the next sight I'll see
But I must arrive there first

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

6 Years On The Job

Today marks 6 years since I completed rookie school with the Sumter Fire Department and embarked on one of the greatest ventures of my life. On October 26, 2006 I received my certificate of completion for rookie school and raised my right hand to be sworn into the fire service. I look back, and it is hard to believe that it has been that long. It seems like it was just yesterday. Like the military, it did not take very long for me to figure out that it was indeed a calling for me, and now that I've been doing it for this long I cannot imagine myself not doing it. Lord knows it was very frustrating for the last 6 months to be off the job while recovering from shoulder surgery.

Me learning how to put up ladders.

A big part of my love for this job comes from the Brotherhood that exists within the fire service. No matter where I go in this country, wherever I find a firehouse it feels like home. Check out my post, Virginia Visit Recap from earlier this year for an example of what this Brotherhood means. My two Brothers from Roanoke that are mentioned in the post, Rhett Fleitz and Willie Wines, Jr have written extensively on the Brotherhood and I definitely recommend checking out their sites. The fire service practically became my second family overnight. From my brothers at Station 13 in Sumter, SC, to my new family in Odenton, it continues to be that way. In fact, I find no more fitting way to celebrate my 7 years of service, than to be on shift tonight with my crew at the Two-Eight.

I absolutely love doing this job, and feel fortunate to be able to. While the adrenaline rush is still there somewhat, this job for me is about helping the public and being there for the guy or girl next to me. Lord-willing, I hope to continue doing this for a long time, whether I stay a volunteer or get paid for it after the Air Force. It has been a great 6 years and I look forward to what the next 6 years will bring.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Me after completing the final certification burn for the basic firefighter course.

On The Path To Home Ownership

The words in the title of this post are ones that I always hoped to use together one day, but was never quite sure if I actually would. As of today though, we officially started down that path with our offer on a house being accepted. As I'm sure anyone who has ever purchased a house probably knows, this is a huge milestone in the my life and the life of my family.

In reality, the process actually began about a month ago or so. We were informed by our landlord that he would need his house back by 1 November. We briefly toyed with the idea of looking for another rental, but quickly abandoned that for several reasons:

1. We plan on finishing out the last 6 1/2 years of my Air Force career here (there's a good chance we can do that in this day and age). We might as well put down some roots for awhile.

2. If we're going to shell out big money, we should be putting it towards our well-being and not someone else's.

3. The third, and definitely one of the most important factors behind it was a recent ruling by Maryland's highest court listing pit bulls as inherently dangerous and putting greater liability upon landlords. I love my Layla, and I'll be damned if I'm giving her up.

Purchasing a home, allows us to take care of all three factors. There's still some things to be done before it is actually ours, but at least we're moving in that direction. I couldn't be happier!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Perfect Placement

Perfect Placement, originally uploaded by T-3 Photography.

Never before had I seen a sign so appropriately placed.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

A Couple of Poems

This post is my effort to start updating my blog regularly again. After January, I haven't been the greatest about posting. My aim is to turn that around.

With that in mind, I've actually written a couple of small poems lately. I present them here for your reading pleasure.

---

Half & Half

Half light
Half dark
Half crazy
Half sane
Mind racing
Ever chasing
That elusive dream

To be who I could
To be what I was
Senses collide
As emotion departs
I am at once here
Then altogether gone

---

Conforming Individually

All for one
And one for all
All the same
A part of the game

Marching to the beat
Of their own drum
While subconsciously submitting
To the collective’s chosen path

The reach for individuality
Becomes the new conformity
All look the same
In the quest to be different

---

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

They Climbed...We Climb

The title comes from an interview with an unknown firefighter that participated in the 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb at the Firehouse Expo in Baltimore this past Thursday. It sums up well why those of us who participate climb: to remember our fallen Brothers from the New York City Fire Department and symbolically complete the climb up the stairs of the World Trade Center that they could not.

This is the third such stair climb that I have participated in, but it was every bit as meaningful as the other two. As I have in the past, I once again climbed in honor of Firefighter Thomas Sabella from Ladder 13. As FF Sabella was the uncle of my best friend Jason, I climb to help keep his memory alive. While I never had the honor to meet him, through Jason I definitely have come to know the husband, father, brother and firefighter that he was. I do this to help to keep the memory of all our FDNY Brothers alive. It is just something that I feel I have to do. We get to go home after our climb. They never got that chance.



It is certainly not an easy venture. Particularly for those of us that choose to climb in full protective gear, it get’s hot and tiresome real quick. Even with ventilation fans blowing air into the stairwells it gets really hot as you get near the top. With all of that said, it is child’s play compared to the hell our FDNY Brothers had to endure as they made their ascent. As in past stair climbs, there are certain times where the urge to quit becomes strong. Whenever these urges come though, I remind myself at Thomas Sabella never quit so neither can I. I had to complete that climb for him and his Brothers.

Special for me this year also was being able to climb with brothers and sisters from the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company. We were able to field a whole team of 7 from the company and I was extremely proud to climb with such a great group of people. I’d like to think that we all became a little closer in the stairwell that day.



This was my third climb, but certainly not my last. As long as my body lets me, I will continue to climb for Jason’s uncle at least once a year. I will do my small part to ensure his memory never fades.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Double Anniversary Weekend

This weekend marks two very important milestones in my life. The first comes tomorrow when I will officially reach 13 years of service in the United States Air Force. It seems like just yesterday I was stepping off the plane in San Antonio for basic training and now here I am, rapidly becoming one of those crusty guys I used to joke about when I was an Airman. Indeed, the last few years have left my very frustrated and burnt out with the Air Force. Yet, I cannot help still being proud of these last 13 years. 13 years is a long damn time to be doing one thing. There are times I still have a sense of wonderment that I've been doing it this long. Tomorrow also means that I've got 7 years left until I'm retirement eligible. While the Air Force has been good to me, I'm starting to concentrate more now on getting my ducks in a row for what I'm going to do post-Air Force. This doesn't mean I'm giving up with the Air Force and won't bust my behind as I always have. It just means I'm done doing it for my career. My only hope now is to set as many Airmen and junior NCOs on the right path as possible so that they can do my job long after my crusty self is gone. Still...13 is my lucky number, so who knows. Maybe this year will be better than the last few. We shall see.

Even more important than my Air Force anniversary date however, is Sunday. This will mark 6 years of marriage to Kristin (the story of how we met can be found here). Just like my years of service in the Air Force, I look back and can't helping wondering where time has gone. I guess the saying is true that time flies when you're having fun. That's not to say that our marriage has always been a bed of roses. Honestly though, who's ever is 100%? I don't think I've met a couple yet who has. It is certainly true though that I grow more fond of her with every day, week, month and year. When you first meet someone and fall in love with them, you think that is the ultimate level of relationship. As the years go on though you learn that you can indeed grow even closer. I was definitely blessed that Kristin came my way. Her more laid back demeanor has always been the perfect compliment to my...well...less than laid back demeanor. Every day is a new adventure and I could never imagine (not that I would honestly try) life being any other way. There are so many things to do and adventures to have with her and I can't wait to do it all.

I love you Kristin. I look forward to many more years with you!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.