Entropic Cogitations

To those that I have never met but I owe my life and freedom to,
I can’t say anything more than Thank You.

And I promise, I will never forget.

Charlie Brown
February 12, 1998 – November 7, 2008

Today we said goodbye to Charlie Brown. He lost a long battle with lymphoma and renal failure. We knew a few months back that this was a battle he couldn’t win. We gave Chemotherapy a shot but his cancer was too advanced for it to help. After consulting with the vet we stopped Chemo. I know he was glad to not be poked and prodded and shot full of drugs every week. He even rebounded and was happy and playful. But it was only a matter of time before his health deteriorated to the point that we had to make the decision to put him to sleep today. As much as we had prepared ourselves for this moment it was still gut wrenching. He hadn’t eaten for a week and we couldn’t let him starve. He slipped away in a few seconds and I know he was so tired and glad to finally be able to rest.

What can I say about Charlie? He was my best friend and was always with me since I got him as a puppy. I still remember bringing him home when he was just 6 weeks old. He lined up all his fuzzy toys in a row and slept in between them. I remember the night I came home frustrated and weary from work one winter night and Charlie wanted to play. So we went out and sledded in my back yard on a trash can lid and played in the snow for hours. And all my frustrations and petty worries just melted away. I remember how he would go trotting across the street to mooch off food from the neighbors. During some of the lowest moments of my life when I was down and depressed, Charlie was the one that kept me going. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that I owe him my life. Charlie loved everyone and never knew a stranger. He always wanted to be with you and would follow you wherever you went. He couldn’t stand it if people in the house were in separate rooms and as Kim always said he had to have all his “peoples” together.

Charlie Brown was the most loyal, trusted friend I have known. He showed me a glimpse of what Jesus’ love is like – unconditional and everlasting. You always knew that no matter how mad you got at him when he got into trouble he would always be there for you. Charlie Brown to me was a gift from God, and I am truly blessed to have known this kind and gentle soul. I have been looking for Charlie Brown all day long today and I know it will take time to heal this hole in my heart right now. One of the last things I told Charlie is that he doesn’t have to worry about taking care of us anymore, and it was time for him to rest.

So Goodbye old friend. We love you and we will truly miss you.

And the next morning, all one heard in the eerie silence was the sound of active PASS devices still chirping away amidst the rubble. For a firefighter, that is the most heartbreaking sound you can hear.

Never Forget this day.
It is your solemn duty to remember.

Haven’t posted in a while.

But just a random post about an Ad that has been running on TV for a while now. It’s the American Express business card Ad that shows the “poor newbie schmuck” that pulls out his Spiderman credit card and the German business associates snicker, leave and I guess by implication nix the deal. I don’t know why, but elitism like that bothers, irritates and angers me at a fundamental level.

Ask yourself the simple question. If those same snooty people were in a meeting with oh say Bill Gates or Warren Buffet and one of them pulled out a Mickey Mouse Credit card that their kid or grand kid had gifted them with, these same people would be grovelling as to how cute/unique/insert ooh-ah adjective here a card it was.

I have met many “nouveau rich” and people that are actually wealthy in my life. It is interesting to me that the people that are aspiring to belong to the upper echelon are the ones that are always elitist and the worst acting. The people that are truly wealthy and/or powerful and know that they are, seldom behave that way.

The presence of the elite and people that behave that way has always and will always leave me cold. To the guy that pulled out the Spidey card and all those like him I say you are better off. You don’t HAVE to get a Gold Amex Card just to impress the condescending rif raff. Become the next Larry Page or Mark Zuckerberg and you won’t have to worry about what cartoon figure is on your credit card.

We lost Joe Curtis – a fellow firefighter at Lone Oak Fire Department this week. I just got back from a memorial service for him at Station #2. Joe fought many fires and survived to talk about it, but finally lost his battle with cancer.

Central Dispatch to Lone Oak 120 …

Central Dispatch to Lone Oak 120 …

Central Dispatch to Lone Oak 120 …

Negative Contact Unit 120 …

And the lone bell rings three times.

In Flanders Fields
– John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.
Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved,
and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep,though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

To those that I have never met but I owe my life and freedom to, I can’t say anything more than Thank You.

And I promise, I will never forget.