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Thanking Those who REALLY Deserve it – Merry Christmas

4 comments

I originally meant to post this during Thanksgiving, but this season seems appropriate enough. I love Christmas. It’s my most favorite time of year. I love family, friends, cooking, and giving gifts. I love Christmas parties, I love the fellowship, and I love being kind to everyone and having them not look at me strangely… ok *as* strangely as they do other times of the year.

And also, I tell people “Merry Christmas”. I don’t say “Happy Holidays”, “Happy Winder Holiday”, or “My lawyer sez to tell you ‘good luck”. If someone responds with “Happy Chanukah”, or “Happy Kwanza”, or “Happy MishMash Shaloob” I’m not offended by it and I’m happy that they wished me the sentiment so there ya go.

Oh, and to my UK friends, Merry Frumpydumples to ye’

So what’s my Christmas post going to be? Well, it’s about thanking who’s really important to thank. As you all know, I’m a volunteer paramedic and firefighter as well as being a career paramedic and firefighter. This time of year in the small towns, it’s pretty common to have people stop by and offer up sweet treats and tell us “Thank you” for what we do for them. Let me make the blanket statement that I really appreciate it folks, even if my waist line and my pending diabetes doesn’t. However, I don’t think that I deserve your thanks.

I have always gotten more from my service to others than I could ever hope to give back to it. I love EMS and I love the Fire Department and I love helping people. I identify with it and I couldn’t imagine my life without it. Even after a solid decade of running my “Life Under the Lights” I can’t imagine doing anything else. I am rewarded a thousand times over by every smile I get, every person I comfort, and every person that I am privileged enough to come into contact with as a caregiver.

So who should the people that wish to thank us actually be thanking?

Well , first thank my wife for every time that I’ve had to get up and leave for a volunteer call in the middle of a family dinner. Thank my kid for every time that I’ve missed out on play time, or story time, or nap time because the pager called me away. Thank my family for all of the times that they’ve had to do without me because I was working mandatory overtime. Thank my wife too for all the nights she sleeps alone because I’m on a 24 and am sleeping at the station. Thank my friends for all the times that I’ve stood them up on plans because I’ve gotten stuck running calls. Thank everyone who cares that I spend time with them, because a lot of the time I could be doing that I’m off caring for everybody else.

Thank the same people for every volunteer or public safety person you know… because without the caring and understanding of the people that truly matter in life for us, we couldn’t be out there doing it for you. They’re the heroes here.

That, and one more thing. I was never in the Military and I probably should have been. This may not be much, but Thank You to all of our Military Men and Women out there serving for me and my family. I can’t write enough to say how much I deeply, and truly appreciate your sacrifice… but from the most humble part of my heart, Thank You for everything you do. The same thanks goes to your families and loved ones as well.

Merry Christmas, Every one.

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Posted by on December 24, 2009 • Filed under: 2009, Ambulance, appreciation, Emergency Medical Services, EMS, EMS ethics, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Motivation, EMS pep talk, EMS Topics, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter, Firefighter Safety & Health, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, News, Paramedic, pride, profession, professionalism
  • AJ

    The EMT on my team, Dlorah (Dee) Higgs woke early this morning and pounded out the following:
    Twas the morning of Christmas and all though the bay the ambulances were silent, dirty and gray. The crew was asleep in the day room so near when the tones went out for a call it would appear. They jumped up with excitement as the dispatcher announced a 1050 involving Bambi out on the route. They rushed to the box and away in a flash they dashed to the scene to the motor crash. And what to their wondering eyes would appear but a sleigh that had been hit and 8 dazed reindeer. Santa was standing surveying the damage while the EMTs went about get the deer all bandaged Oh how would the presents get to the kids? The crew went about pitching their bid. So since old St. Nick had no better idea, the loaded up the ambulance with all the toys to give. To Jimmy's and Johnny's and little Susie's house. Down to Old man Gables for he had a touch of gout. On though the morning when it was all said and done, there wasn't a present left, not even a one. But as they returned to the squad, he pulled out a box which was somewhat quite odd. He said because you give all though the year use these as best for all that you hold dear. And before the amazed eyes of the crew before they could blink he was gone so sudden faster then a wink. But the boxes they opened so careful and dear were a batch of new stethoscopes for better they could hear. So remember my friends to keep the spirit all year help your neighbors because they are here. Merry Christmas folks and be safe.
    Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah to all.
    The Bus Driver

  • AJ

    The EMT on my team, Dlorah (Dee) Higgs woke early this morning and pounded out the following:
    Twas the morning of Christmas and all though the bay the ambulances were silent, dirty and gray. The crew was asleep in the day room so near when the tones went out for a call it would appear. They jumped up with excitement as the dispatcher announced a 1050 involving Bambi out on the route. They rushed to the box and away in a flash they dashed to the scene to the motor crash. And what to their wondering eyes would appear but a sleigh that had been hit and 8 dazed reindeer. Santa was standing surveying the damage while the EMTs went about get the deer all bandaged Oh how would the presents get to the kids? The crew went about pitching their bid. So since old St. Nick had no better idea, the loaded up the ambulance with all the toys to give. To Jimmy's and Johnny's and little Susie's house. Down to Old man Gables for he had a touch of gout. On though the morning when it was all said and done, there wasn't a present left, not even a one. But as they returned to the squad, he pulled out a box which was somewhat quite odd. He said because you give all though the year use these as best for all that you hold dear. And before the amazed eyes of the crew before they could blink he was gone so sudden faster then a wink. But the boxes they opened so careful and dear were a batch of new stethoscopes for better they could hear. So remember my friends to keep the spirit all year help your neighbors because they are here. Merry Christmas folks and be safe.
    Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah to all.
    The Bus Driver

  • AJ

    The EMT on my team, Dlorah (Dee) Higgs woke early this morning and pounded out the following:
    Twas the morning of Christmas and all though the bay the ambulances were silent, dirty and gray. The crew was asleep in the day room so near when the tones went out for a call it would appear. They jumped up with excitement as the dispatcher announced a 1050 involving Bambi out on the route. They rushed to the box and away in a flash they dashed to the scene to the motor crash. And what to their wondering eyes would appear but a sleigh that had been hit and 8 dazed reindeer. Santa was standing surveying the damage while the EMTs went about get the deer all bandaged Oh how would the presents get to the kids? The crew went about pitching their bid. So since old St. Nick had no better idea, the loaded up the ambulance with all the toys to give. To Jimmy's and Johnny's and little Susie's house. Down to Old man Gables for he had a touch of gout. On though the morning when it was all said and done, there wasn't a present left, not even a one. But as they returned to the squad, he pulled out a box which was somewhat quite odd. He said because you give all though the year use these as best for all that you hold dear. And before the amazed eyes of the crew before they could blink he was gone so sudden faster then a wink. But the boxes they opened so careful and dear were a batch of new stethoscopes for better they could hear. So remember my friends to keep the spirit all year help your neighbors because they are here. Merry Christmas folks and be safe.
    Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah to all.
    The Bus Driver

  • AJ

    The EMT on my team, Dlorah (Dee) Higgs woke early this morning and pounded out the following:
    Twas the morning of Christmas and all though the bay the ambulances were silent, dirty and gray. The crew was asleep in the day room so near when the tones went out for a call it would appear. They jumped up with excitement as the dispatcher announced a 1050 involving Bambi out on the route. They rushed to the box and away in a flash they dashed to the scene to the motor crash. And what to their wondering eyes would appear but a sleigh that had been hit and 8 dazed reindeer. Santa was standing surveying the damage while the EMTs went about get the deer all bandaged Oh how would the presents get to the kids? The crew went about pitching their bid. So since old St. Nick had no better idea, the loaded up the ambulance with all the toys to give. To Jimmy's and Johnny's and little Susie's house. Down to Old man Gables for he had a touch of gout. On though the morning when it was all said and done, there wasn't a present left, not even a one. But as they returned to the squad, he pulled out a box which was somewhat quite odd. He said because you give all though the year use these as best for all that you hold dear. And before the amazed eyes of the crew before they could blink he was gone so sudden faster then a wink. But the boxes they opened so careful and dear were a batch of new stethoscopes for better they could hear. So remember my friends to keep the spirit all year help your neighbors because they are here. Merry Christmas folks and be safe.
    Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah to all.
    The Bus Driver

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