We live and travel each day near an empty parking lot at the Hoffman Building which is used by the Alexandria Fire Department to conduct test runs of their engines and ladders. Over the past several months, there’s been a young female driver trying to learn how to manuever that big red baby around cones, backing that monstrosity up, and stopping it short – which obviously can be no easy task. I’ve watched her and how she handles herself and have been really impressed with her courage and tenacity. Being a firefighter in a major metropolitan area like Alexandria/Washington DC with its traffic, narrow colonial brick homes and its modern high-rises has just GOT to be a special calling and I give kudos to each and every emergency responder.
Well, it’s a small world and this very same driver was outside the offices of the United States Patent and Trademark Building yesterday for the Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy Association’s annual “Jerry’s Kids” telethon fund-raising. Firefighters are asking everyone to help give to the cause by filling the firefighters’ boots with cash donations. It’s a real marker for the beginning of September for me, and it always makes me think of my second husband who LOVED two things in this world: a) when Jerry sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at the end of Labor Day weekend; and b) Jimmy Stewart in “It’s a Wonderful Life” at Christmas. And in September, I always think how blessed I am. How grateful. How lucky.
Modern medicine is a miracle in the making and the advancements for combatting MD have never been more promising in this age of technological developments than they are today. So “Be Wholly You” and help the Fire Fighters Help Jerry’s Kids in supporting the MDA drive. And as for that role model in my very own community? Well she reminds us of five fire safety tips: 1) Emergency – Call 911; 2) Check your smoke detectors; 3) Check your fire extinguishers; 4) Stop, Drop & Roll; and 5) Be Safe! Happy Labor Day to all and remember, when we give to others we give to ourselves.
Image Credit: http://www.haporiginals.com/mda/fill_the_boot/images/sign_boot_ahead.jpg
