When I was younger, I really wanted to be a firefighter. It was cliche, I know. Most youngsters at some point wanted the action figure life. To be that hero, you know.
And some wanted to be a superhero. Yeah, I was guilty of that fantasy too. But that was a story for another time.
So when I was watching out the window today and a fire truck drove by with its flashing lights, I was once again pulled into my lingering dreams of a younger me.
Oh, how I wanted to drive that shiny red truck, wear the yellow hats, and face down the flames of a roaring fire. I wanted to save the day, every day.
Part of me still did. Didn’t we all cling to at least a bit of the innocent dreams we spun before we understood the realities of those yearnings? The bit of us that hadn’t let go of who we thought we would be? Who we’d dream we would be?
But the other part of me, the more mature part, had come to realize the life of a firefighter was less of a hero and more of a saint. And I didn’t think I was that noble.
Here’s to the heroes and saints in every walks of life; teachers, nurses, writers, and artists.
Really anyone who is kind and courageous in everyday life.
Jack
PS. By the way, did I ever tell you, my buddy and pal, Mercer from The Doggy Den, was a true-life drug dog? And then he trained to be a therapy dog. Now that was a superhero!
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14 Comments
Boogie
January 29, 2020 at 5:02 pmYou would make a great firefighter!
I know firefighter dogs tend to be Dalmatians, but I’ve always thought that other breeds could fulfill the role too.
Also, your white coat would look great with all that red.
jackandandrea
January 30, 2020 at 11:52 pmimagine the yellow hat too!
Ruth Epstein
January 29, 2020 at 8:10 pmJack, being a firefighter is hard work and I admire them all the time, they are heroes although that was something I have never wanted to do as a profession. Layla I think LOL would be a good food taster.
jackandandrea
January 30, 2020 at 11:54 pmhey Layla, I never thought to be a food taster, but I am with you on that – especially if I could get my paws on some of that yummy human food. Oh yeah.
Jenna Emmons
January 31, 2020 at 12:28 amIf you were a firefighter (or a superhero) would you go rescue cats in trees? I don’t think I’d like that part of the job.
jackandandrea
February 1, 2020 at 4:11 amThat is a very complicated question. Expected job performance vs cats??? I mean cats!! It would be tough. Maybe if I put the ladder next to the tree the cat would come down on its own.
Alisa
February 5, 2020 at 6:28 pmJack, I’m sure you are a superhero of sorts for your human <3 Saving the day when things are hard or sad.
jackandandrea
February 12, 2020 at 9:54 pmThat is a good point. I often wonder what my humans would do without me.
PetCurve
January 31, 2020 at 12:49 amI think you’d be the best dog to sit up in a firetruck! Chase your dreams!
jackandandrea
February 1, 2020 at 4:12 amawwww thank you!
Hannah
February 4, 2020 at 1:25 amYou would have been a great firefighter! I wanted to be a ballerina lol.
jackandandrea
February 12, 2020 at 9:52 pmThank you. I chase my tail. So magic could have been an option too.
Krystian
February 5, 2020 at 7:19 pmThe bad thing about firefighting is that the pager is always on! I grew up with three firefighters in the house. It’s a noble profession. But very hard to plan around.
jackandandrea
February 12, 2020 at 9:57 pm3 firefighters?? wow! a noble profession indeed.