Stone Park Fire Department:
Stone Park Fire Fighters always take time to hear my fierman jokes. They even laugh at my Fierman jokes. God bless Stone Park Fire Fighters. Sometimes my jokes aren't funny and they still laugh.
Where to begin with this one, I have no idea for there are so many memories of sharing a joke with Stone Park Fire fighters. Like, Shorty the fat bald headed dude who wanted to know what fire fighters do on a Saturday night. I told the story to Chief Cummings along with my ideas on raising money for the fire departments. He laughed.
You can read about Shortys adventure on my Fire fighters are Beautiful pages at http:// geocities. com/skyline_404/index.html.
I tell them all the time that the jokes are done with lots of love and respect for them. They know it without me having to tell them, but I tell them anyway.
Ever hear of the old saying open mouth and insert foot. I do that quite often. On this particular day, I was talking to Lt. John Penske and we were talking about the tragic accident that took the life of Jeff Bergstrom. Well I told John there's an old saying that goes: Only the good die young."
OOPS---
That sounded horrible, considering how young John is and how good he is. One of those rare moments that you don't stop to think about what you say to someone. He smiled and then I thought about what I said and I'm like, no, no,no--I can't stand another line of duty death--don't you go dieing on me. I mean it.
Moving right along and getting over that moment, I then went into my house and asked God, "Why me. Why do I have to be the one to say dumb and stupid things. Lord forgive me please and please let Lt. Penske forgive me too.
A few weeks later I seen Fire Fighter Paul sitting on the steps of the fire station. I waved to him and then told him, "I'm protesting all of you tommorrow."
A confused sad look on his face he asked me,"But why?"
I replied,"Dang fierman, racing up and down the street, making all that noise----I can't get my beauty sleep in and God knows I need all the beauty sleep I can get. I tell ya."
He laughed and said,"Yeah, me too."
(You can tell from the picture of me and the fire fighters, that I do need lots of beauty sleep)
Moving right along. I was out and about one night and stopped to talk to Lt. Penske and Fire fighter Paul. As time went on and as we talked I warned them, told them to watch what they say about me or I might start telling them my fierman bed time stories, begginng with The short fat bald headed dude who wanted to know what firemen do on a saturday night.
Paul replied," As long as there not scarey. I have nightmares when scarey stories are told and it disturbs my sleep."
I shook my head and said, "No they are not scarey, but, they will disturb your sleep with, Peggy, I'm going to kill you. I can't sleep because I'm laughing to hard."
He answered by saying,"Nah, I'd rather have my sleep disturbed with laughter than with nightmares."
I replied,"Alright then. Sometime in the near future I'll tell you my bedtime stories for fierman. It's to late to tell you them now. Goodnight, have a peacefull, quiet night."
I came on home. Smiling for the longest time. It's so nice when you can
share a joke and share a smile with special people whom you care about and believe me, I care about Lt. John Penske and fire fighter Paul. They are the apple of my eye and always will be.
What is a real fire fighter, well I don't know what your answer is to that question, but, here's mine.
A real fire fighter is someone who lays their life down on the line for others of course, but, they do more than just that. They don't run and hide when a hug is needed by you. They don't act like your all contaminated and diseased. They don't condemn or criticize their brothers and sisters to the point, those brothers and sisters want to quit. They teach and show a better way of doing things instead. They encourage their brothers and sisters to build up their self esteem.
They take pride in the job they do. They have dignity and are honored to be a fire fighter. They don't believe they are Gods answer to fire fighting.
They give of themselves unselfishly, share their knowledge with others, and take the extra miles to make life a little easier. They take the time to talk to others and listen to what others have to say. They appreciate support from their local residents. They are Angels of Mercy, Gods gift to us and Heroes no doubt. Stone Park Fire Fighters-----deffinition of real fire fighters.