Sunday, April 14, 2019

Bravest


We spent the day yesterday watching my son and his squad perform rescue operations. He was so impressive. Last week he took his final exams and completed the Fire Academy boot camp training—18 weeks of hell. He graduates this Thursday and then my boy will be a full fledged firefighter in New York City, where the FDNY gets five thousand calls daily, more than Chicago, Philly and Los Angeles combined. At certain moments during yesterday's demonstrations, my heart was in my throat, especially when the men and women in uniform would swing from the ladder onto the roof of a seven story building, or rappel down the side of a five story building on a plain nylon rope. Other times were pure fun, like when the probie firefighters did the firehose demonstration, and tuned the spray on each other. After, some had their loved ones experience what it's like to manage the firehose, or be rescued from a high window.


That's our boy in the middle at the top of the building, about to rappel down the side.


And there he is, soaking wet at the end of the firehouse exercise. The spray of water must have been a relief in that boiling hot gear. 


We were all so proud. I think he was proud of himself, too.


His dad wanted to know details about the helmet.


There was a lot of walking so I brought my nordic poles.


His buddies from college were there. They were all in a state of wonder that he'd followed through on what he used to talk about doing. "A lot of people dream of becoming a firefighter," one said, "but he actually did it."


This morning on Instagram he posted this. 

He thanked us yesterday, too, when we were back at his house. "I couldn't have done it without you," he said. "At every step you were there, believing in me." I don't have the words to describe how full my heart was. It was a moment. His dad felt it, too. We have watched our son take each determined step to fulfill a dream that tapped his heart when he was ten years old. It's not so easy for a kid with no legacy in the department. Unless you come from generations of firefighters, there are a lot of roadblocks you have to find your way around. As they say in the department, it's the best job in the world and they don't make it easy to get. But  at every stage our boy found the right next door and did the hard work to make it through. And now he is one of those who people will call in their worst moments. And he's ready. He is brave and his heart is true. May he be protected always.





22 comments:

  1. I am so grateful for people like your son who follow their calling to serve in difficult and dangerous circumstances to protect the public.

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    1. Jenny, I am grateful for him, too. He's a good one. Bless him.

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  2. Oops - hit publish before I was done.

    Big congratulations to your son!

    And add my wish to your own that he always be safe. You and your husband are also to be thanked for your selfless encouragement of your son's dream. Not an easy thing for a parent.

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    1. Thank you for that wish for his safety, Jenny, from the depths of my heart.

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  3. Oh shit, woman.
    I'm crying. I mean really crying. I feel like that son of yours is one of ours and as such, my heart is swelling at how strong and determined he's had to be to fulfill that dream of his. Tell him that he's got a granny/aunt down in Florida who is so proud of him that tears are running down her cheeks.
    My GOD! What an accomplishment.

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    1. Mary, it really seems like we were witnessing a call, and how could we stand in its way. I will tell him about his aunt Mary in Lloyd who is crying because she is proud! Thank you for getting it. It feels huge somehow.

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  4. Congratulations to your son. It's a privilege to witness someone's dream come true. May he always be safe.

    BTW, how tall are you? He towers over you:)

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    1. Lily, thank you, for the good wishes and the witnessing. At 6 foot 2, my son is a foot taller than I am!

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  5. Congratulations to your son for following through on his heart dream of becoming a firefighter. What an amazing accomplishment, and such a compassionate and challenging vision for a life's work. I am so happy for him and for your whole family.

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    1. robin, i do think it is something special to embrace that call as the work of a life. Now, I am a praying mother.

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  6. NYC, get down on your knees and thank your fire fighters, especially this one who worked so hard to do you proud.
    This one was a tear jerker. I'm so happy to see him with that absolute glow on his face and to have his family there to witness this, he must have been wanting to jump for joy, if he hadn't been so tired.
    So happy for you, mama, seeing your baby fly!!

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    1. liv, you can see how tired he is, can't you? Honestly, it was a grueling 18 weeks, but yes, he was happy, too. We all felt so gratified. Thanks for your caring comment.

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  7. It must feel amazing to know you created such a good human being. Congrats to your son, and to you and the rest of your family!

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    1. Steve, he is a good human being, thank you. Not that he was always easy to raise, he's as hard headed as I am for one thing, but I do think we got very lucky to be his parents. It has been amazing to watch his commitment, to realize that he has become a man of steady heart, attentive mind, and sturdy will.

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  8. Congratulations to you all! This is such an accomplishment for him. I hadn't thought about the fact that he's not legacy would be a factor. He overcame all of it. May he always be safe in this new venture.

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    1. Allison, looking back, it has taken him almost six years to get to this place, as he began to pursue it as soon as he graduated college, and that was in 2013. I so admire his persistence, his march toward the goal. xo

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  9. So wonderful. I can feel your pride through this post. He's going to be great. He already is.

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    1. Melissa, glad to see you here! My niece says she's going to tell her children that their uncle is a superhero haha.

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  10. This is so exciting -- I feel like I've watched him grow into it for years! Thank you for sharing a bit of the journey with us -- your son is an inspiration.

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    1. Elizabeth, it is true, you have been on this journey with us for years! Thank you, my friend. Love.

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  11. Hugs to you and your very special son...

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  12. Congrats to your son! And I noticed you have lost a lot of weight.

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