Now, the prospect of actually having to fight fire was not something Mrs. Murphy had given much thought to before.

She'd had a myriad of different jobs during breaks from nursing. Learning how to spot weld and rivet, being a swing-off mate on a fishing boat, those kinds of things. But joining a group of people to voluntarily walk INTO a burning building????

Ah, what the heck. Go for it.

And the preparations begin.

1. �Getting into a First Responder course, because nurses and physicians are not allowed to provide emergency medicine in this state without having taken an emergency response course.

2. �That done, getting out-fitted in bunker gear. This was a group effort. (Everyone had to watch while I was measured for my bunker coat - THREE TIMES!)

3. �A trip to Massachusetts to connect with the sales rep to pick up a size 3 boot that he'd been carrying around as a demo.

4. �Finding out that while the legs themselves were measured correctly, the knee pads were placed where they always were - which means I have knee pads for my lower shins/ankles.

5. �Traveling personally over 100 miles to purchase a pair of fire gloves that fit.

6. �Getting the beeper, the light, the scanner(s), the jump kit, the forestry gear, etc.

NOW. WE'VE GOT ALL THE "TOYS", AND WANT TO PLAY.

1. �Waiting with baited breath for that first tone - and then not recognizing it when it comes because you'd never heard the beeper go off before.

2. �The first bad code.

3. �The first bad accident.

4. �The first bad fire.

5. �The first ANYTHING involving someone you know.

6. �Having creosote dumped on your head because you're the only one who can fit into the stupid fireplace.

7. �"Let's see if she fits into an equipment locker." (I do.)

8. �Having shoring blocks used under my butt so I can comfortably stabalize the neck of a driver.

9. �Being used for a victim for everything in training.

10. Allowing another FD to cut me out of cars several times.

11. Being duct taped, strapped, cravated, ked'd, collared, etc. to a back board and then stood in a corner while everyone left.

12. Being the only one on the department who can stand UP in the engines and walk around.

13. Trying to dispel the following rumors:

�a. That I was seen doing bendies on a stump at a forest fire.

�b. That I can walk upright under the tables at Dunkin' Donuts.

�c. That I wear hats so I can dust underneath tables as I walk under them.

�d. That I'm the town's official leaning post for anyone 5'4" or taller.

THE REAL STUFF

1. �The first ride into a mountain valley - up the ridge, down another, up another - hitting the bottom of the ridge at 55 in a fully loaded engine - in 8 inches of snow. YEEHAW!

2. �Almost being driven through someone's living room because the driver took the turn too fast.

3. �Getting yelled at for missing a "little people" call.

4. �Taking off for a motor vehicle accident and discovering about 30 yards into the response that someone's chained the dog to the bumper of your car.

5. �Finding out that not only do I trust the others with MY life, they trust me with theirs.

6. �Seeing the expression on the face of an out-of-town deputy chief when he sees a pair of jeans and a pair of hot pink socks drying by the exhaust. We suggested he not ask. So he didn't.

7. �On a blistering hot day taking off your bunker pants, removing your jeans, putting the bunker pants back on.

8. �After removing said jeans, doing my job at the fire and then, when the chief suggests I take off my bunker gear and do rehab, finding out that someone's taken the engine back to the station - WITH THE JEANS.

9. �Being the only female at a mutual aid drill when the hose flips loose, giving new meaning to the phrase "wet tee shirt contest".

10. Having the deputy chief get down on his knees in the middle of an intersection, being watched by several mutual aide companies, gleefully informing them that this is what he has to do to speak to the "token midget".

11. Having the police at the above scene tell me he can't arrest the deputy because there's no law against harrassing a midget firefighter.

12, Being referred to, by a cop from another town, as a member of the "evidence eridacation team".

13. Sitting here listening to the tones going off for a fully involved structure fire and praying for their safety. Not knowing, not going because I'm on disability leave.

14. The knowledge that when you and your son are�the ones in the accident that people you know, trust and love will respond.

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