*** Featured Image: If Superheroes Posed Like Wonder Woman by Coelasquid/Kelly Turnbull When I saw my professor’s name, from 35 years ago, flash on my phone I felt nervous. I remembered him as the guy who cared about his students. He was playful—I believe because he realized we were still young. I answered his call. He …
Welcome back for the conclusion of Chasing the Flash. Last time we ended when Eddie, worried I was out to get him, transferred to a different firehouse. With Eddie gone we were assigned a tramp each following shift to take his place. A tramp in Minneapolis is a term for a firefighter, female or male, …
Chasing the Flash Part 2 of 3 I value kindness most. I often find kindness in conflict with what I value second, truth. I mentioned a story of revenge in my last post. What does revenge have to do with kindness? Months after refusing to participate in the unsafe hose training drill, I was assigned to an engine …
I like the me I was, more than the me I have become. I like the idealistic me—before I understood regret. Jessie, pound for pound was the strongest person on the fire department and was knocked on her ass during a training drill. My internal injustice alarm screamed through my idealistic veins. The training chief— …
Early in my career as a firefighter I had already collected three stork pins. Granted, two came after delivering one set of twins. When my newest call came in for an imminent birth, I calmly strolled to the rig. I sensed anxiety as the rest of the crew piled into the cab. The captain and …