souldog
OG Post-Whorer since 2008 bitches...
This weekend was a long weekend for the men of Patrol Teams 5, 6, and Engines 1 and 2. From Friday through Sunday, we ran the city streets as the Zombie Squad with a skeleton crew of misfits. Myself and the boys endured everything from fatal traffic collisions, structure fires, back to back 24 hour shifts with our eyes burning, a close-call shooting (having rounds fly by is NEVER fun), fights by the dozens, and dead bodies lying cold and alone. Within this week, our city came down on us like a raging storm. And yet we do it, week after week, wracking our bodies to exhaustion, trying to stay above the chaos, just so folks can sleep peacably at night. It's amazing what they put in the water these days.
It might not be the Iraqi Conflict, or Panama revisited, but it's our version of Urban War. These are my Brothers in Arms. We wear red, blue, black, and brass, to show our service and dedication to God, country, city, and community. There's nothing like it in the world, and you military guys and gals know EXACTLY what I'm talking about when I speak of cameraderie.
Finally, at the end of this weeklong marathon-sprint, things are finally slowing down, and alot of us are getting ready to call "Monday" our "Saturday." I put away my unit in the yard, lock up, and start walking towards my station to change out of my bat-suit. As I round the street corner and head to the ramp, I can hear a commotion. Thinking to myself, "Sh*t, this better not be another 415 verbal, cause I'm so damn tired of yelling..." I turn the wall, looking up, and everybody I've served with in this past week is standing around in a big circle; joking, stroking, and....you guessed it: Smokin'.
There's something about being a Brother of the Leaf that brings people together. It's almost a spiritual thing if you will, when men and women gather around to relax and talk without all the noise of life, and the hustle and bustle of work and responsibilities and deadlines. You are able to just put it on hold for that hour or hour and a half that you puff on that stogie, while telling the funniest stories you'll ever hear.
It was a beautiful thing to see all my Brothers in Arms together, just laughing off the stress, leaning on each other, and learning to deal with what we have seen. It cracked me up when I came up to the circle, and my buddy Patterson thrusts out a pack of Backwoods and says, "It's Friday little brother!!" with a huge grin on his face. The snob in me said "No," to the Backwoods at first, because surely, they are no Padron!
But after seeing everyone coming together as a family, I couldn't resist joining the foray.
So here's to being a S/BOTL, and the cameraderie that comes with something as simple as lighting up a cigar. Thanks for letting me share my story, thanks for teaching me what it means to be a BOTL, and remember: May is the National Law Enforcement Appreciation Month.
"No better way to earn our pay..."
The Fire Boys get theirs in July! :sign:
It might not be the Iraqi Conflict, or Panama revisited, but it's our version of Urban War. These are my Brothers in Arms. We wear red, blue, black, and brass, to show our service and dedication to God, country, city, and community. There's nothing like it in the world, and you military guys and gals know EXACTLY what I'm talking about when I speak of cameraderie.
Finally, at the end of this weeklong marathon-sprint, things are finally slowing down, and alot of us are getting ready to call "Monday" our "Saturday." I put away my unit in the yard, lock up, and start walking towards my station to change out of my bat-suit. As I round the street corner and head to the ramp, I can hear a commotion. Thinking to myself, "Sh*t, this better not be another 415 verbal, cause I'm so damn tired of yelling..." I turn the wall, looking up, and everybody I've served with in this past week is standing around in a big circle; joking, stroking, and....you guessed it: Smokin'.
There's something about being a Brother of the Leaf that brings people together. It's almost a spiritual thing if you will, when men and women gather around to relax and talk without all the noise of life, and the hustle and bustle of work and responsibilities and deadlines. You are able to just put it on hold for that hour or hour and a half that you puff on that stogie, while telling the funniest stories you'll ever hear.
It was a beautiful thing to see all my Brothers in Arms together, just laughing off the stress, leaning on each other, and learning to deal with what we have seen. It cracked me up when I came up to the circle, and my buddy Patterson thrusts out a pack of Backwoods and says, "It's Friday little brother!!" with a huge grin on his face. The snob in me said "No," to the Backwoods at first, because surely, they are no Padron!
But after seeing everyone coming together as a family, I couldn't resist joining the foray.So here's to being a S/BOTL, and the cameraderie that comes with something as simple as lighting up a cigar. Thanks for letting me share my story, thanks for teaching me what it means to be a BOTL, and remember: May is the National Law Enforcement Appreciation Month.
"No better way to earn our pay..."
The Fire Boys get theirs in July! :sign:
Josh 
