'Now, We're Them'

~ Retirees at the 911 10th Anniversary ~

Her name was April … indeed pretty like the month of Spring. I didn’t know her well, but we were classmates in Junior High. I still remember the day when I heard someone ask, “Did you hear about April”? I said, “No”, “What”? She died Saturday night. A knot filled my throat. Moisture to my eyes. And I said, “But, she was not even thirteen”. “What happened”? I asked. My friend across the table looked up and said, “They say that she died of an overdose”. “An overdose?” I said! I had barely heard the word before. Today, for young teenagers, even preteens, it is a word that is a frequent part of their vocabulary. And yes, it had become a frequent word for my world in the 1960’s. Yet, still a word that wasn’t daily for this young teen.

Why do I mention miss April, some fifty-five years later? Other than an older family member or two, hers was the first death that was even remotely close to my surroundings … Close to my emotions. And now … as I sit here, closer to seventy than sixty, death … of someone close … it is now a regular occurrence. Then … death was typically that which I heard my mother, my father or a grandparent talk about. And, as they grew older, those occurrences became more, and more common. And now … I am … that is, "We are Them"!

I wrote about one such friend two years ago this month. In a blog entitled, ‘Gizmo ~~ A Very Good Friend’. I told of more than three dozen work projects that greatly connected our lives. Many of those projects were right here in the very home in which I sit to write this blog. It only takes but a glance at my front porch, my bathroom heater … at my Yamaha tailbag, or the siding of my garage … even at Station ‘80’ ,,, and ‘Gizmo’ automatically brings a smile.

There have been many others in the past few years. The memory of their lives … frequently pass with a smile, perhaps a tear as something reminds me of our moment together. Such as …

We shared the same station for twenty years of our career. He would become my first Paramedic partner. A great one at that! And though soon after he decided that he would no longer continue as a ‘Medic’ … I’m fairly sure it had nothing to do with me. Ha! Still, we spent many years training & working together. And … I don’t say this lightly … Mitch was the most diligent comrade that I ever had the privilege to work alongside. Now … that is in no way to 'diss' the remainder of you. Most of whom, we likewise shared a great many shifts in a Fire Engine, Rescue, Truck ... Boat ... and the Fire House. But Mitch ... he was of the most unique breed. I'm sure that most would agree.

For the years after his retirement, we often enjoyed a text, a coffee … or lunch together. Catching up was always easy. Like we had seen each other only days before … when usually it would be months.

And though many are the memories of my friend ‘Mitch’ … the biggest of smiles … it comes as I’m reminded of playing volleyball. The ball would be perfectly set … now, perfectly at the Fire House is not quite the same as Karch, Kerri or Misty May, but … perhaps close. Yeah, not even! ... So … I give it a good ole ‘perfect’ fire house set. The ball floats beautifully into the air. Mitch jumps … or is that … Mitch ‘perfectly’ jumps? :) The ball slowly settles back to earth. Mitch … with every appearance of a massive spike … Almost as if in slow motion … The ball lands upon his hands … and then … sike! ... He dinks the ball ever so gently to the side of the most unsuspecting player opposite of the net. And in harmony we shout … “MEEATCH”!

~ Mitchell's Retirement Pic ~

So … if I’m going to “Be Them” … I’m going to do so with smile. A smile of a memory. If only they could ALL be … “MEEATCH”! In honor of Mitchell Johnson. Rest in peace … friend … brother :)

Rest in Peace!