It had to happen, deep in my heart I knew it would happen.

When my boys were little, they use to play fireman, everything was about the fire house, the fire trucks, having a call, and the whoo whoo sounds of sirens. We had a scanner and when they heard station 9 had a call, they had a call. They would run around the house and be the fireman and the paramedics and save the house and the people. We had every fire truck toy there was.

As the boys grew up, their thoughts turned to other jobs they wanted to be when they grew up. Brian was going to be a sailor and row me to Hawaii in a row boat, Chris was going to be the pro ball player. Then, again as they became even older and went to high school all those plans changed. Brian was now going to be a computer programmer, Chris a Architectural Engineer. Good solid careers, they were set and I thought there was a plan.

Then Brian switched it up on me and after months of speaking with his dad he decided he would become a Firemedic. He was going to follow in his dad’s footsteps. I was so very proud of him and supported his decision 100%. I was now the mom of a firemedic, just like I was 20 years earlier as they played in our living room.

Chris on the other hand was working a good job, making good money. I wouldn’t say he loved what he was doing but he was able to put some of his design experience together and was designing and installing high end security and home centers. He was good at it and was respected by his boss and his coworkers yet still, when I watched him and Brian talk about Brian’s job the more a light started to shine in Chris’ eyes. I knew he had the bug, the calling the say, so when he announced he was going to start volunteering at a local station as an EMT I was all for it. I thought that was that and we could move on with things.  I was wrong!

I was surprised to say the least when a few months later he announced he had decided to make it (firefighting) a career and was going to start applying to the local fire departments. I didn’t see that coming, but he had our support and more importantly he had the full support of his fiancé (now wife) so he he went for it.

Now getting hired by a FD is not an easy process, it takes months and months, tests, interviews, physicals and then more tests plus a bit of luck doesn’t hurt and also connections help if you have them. In NVA he had those connections but not here in Richmond though so Chris had to wait it all out, months of stress, disappointments and what appeared to be no luck. But eventually the call came!!

I am so proud to say I am now the mom of TWO career Firefighters. Chris begins his new career on Monday and I couldn’t be more proud.

“Aren’t you scared and worried with both your boys as firefighters” I was asked today. .  My answer is absolutely!! I know it is a dangerous job, but if they are willing to serve and put it all out there I am willing to trust in their training, their brotherhood and in God to keep them safe.

As this picture shows, it really was inevitable that these two little boys, my pride and joy, in their fire helmets, playing with their toy fire trucks would grow up to be what they dreamed to be. One of Fairfax Cities finest and now one of Chesterfields.

Brian on the left, Chris on the right.

and because I want to totally embarrass him…….

Chris at about 18 months maybe 20 months on one of his first calls.

Chris on his 2nd Birthday (wish he was looking up) in his Jr. Fireman suit with a real department patch and even his Cabbage Patch had a fireman suit..

His fourth Birthday in his Halloween costume

Hope you have a wonderful day and if you get a chance, say a prayer for the safety of every fireman/women and EMT/paramedic worldwide. They can’t get enough prayers