November 11th, 2019…Veteran’s Day…Our first “big snow” of the year with accumulation of 3 inches and wind chills down to zero. yikes! With weather like that, you know damn good and well the first responders are going to be working in overtime. They are all ready prepared to jump out into the weather and safely drive to the station to respond to save a life, a home, and/property. Today, was no different. My husband had already responded to two calls today. Last night was the same way… Just sat down for another family meal then BEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPP!! The tones drop, and away he goes… With a half emptied plate, knowing he didn’t get is belly full just yet. As soon as he walks out that door, I can’t help but bow my head and just pray. Pray that he comes home safely to finish his meal. Pray that he comes home for me to wrap up in those warm hugs and soft kisses. Pray that he comes home to still be the very best daddy that he already is.
Being a firefighter’s wife is the most stressful, yet most rewarding kind of wife there is. It’s the skipped family meals. Or the skipped family game night because someone else needed him. It’s the constant trainings that keep him away from home once a week, or on occasion, multiple times a week. It’s the monthly meetings that he benefits from to let him know how his attendance and performance is appreciated and doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s the fundraisers that keep him away from home on some weekends to raise money for the department so they can have nice things too. Reliable equipment to keep them safe. To help pay for mutual aid when not a lot of other firefighters show up. (Thank GOD for mutual aid! So they don’t have to face the chaos alone.)
As you see, it’s just the little things… The little things that mean the most. I know that it gets frustrating. Believe me. Been there, done that. And still continue to do it. Each and every day. And that’s just the beginning. All we can do is support them, love them, and hold onto them when the calls get rough. They need that. And in reality, we do too! All too often, we take material things and people too, for granted. Not understanding that things can be taken away from us faster than we can even begin to imagine. Live Big. Laugh Often. and above all, Love so hard. Harder than you ever have before. Hold onto your loves close, and squeeze them just a little tighter, a little longer. You never know what the future holds.
Thin Red Line Wife Blog 