How has everyone been doing?

This past year has been a very very busy year for me. My kids are all getting older and we bought a new home (well new to us). I have spent some much time working on the house and it is still not done. And also working many many hours at work.

I have been going back to school to finish my 2 year degree so I can test for Captain at the Fire Department one day. Also as many of you know the station that I am at is on the lake here and we have a fire boat and we have to be rescue divers. Well back in the summer time we were up on another lake helping another department look for a missing swimmer. The swimmer was in 80ft of water and we were asked to go up there and help. We did locate the missing swimmer on our sonar. The other department wanted to dive and retrieve the swimmer. As we were there watching and waiting one of their divers ran out of air and was not able to make it back to the surface. I have been in the fire service for almost 17 years now and that was the worst day I have ever had at work. I am not sure if there is anyone here that scuba dives but he had got what is called the “CAGE” which is cerebral arterial gas embolism.

Also about 2 months ago we found out that my sister has breast cancer. This has hit our family like a ton of bricks. On December 9th it has been 4 years since we buried my mom who also died of cancer. My mom didn’t have breast cancer and my family don’t have a history of either so we are not sure where either one is from. We are feeling good and hope that my sister’s was caught early enough. She has already started treatment so hopefully she will be through this soon.

So I for one have had a very busy year I really hope that it is slowing down a little but I am sure that it will not. Maybe it will when I can retire which is 14 years away.

I hope that everyone has had a good year.

Wow, thats pretty rough, I'm sorry this all happened to you Death. My condolences go out to the diver's family and yours. I wish your sister best of luck during this difficult process and hope to see you succeeded in becoming a Fire Capitan. Good luck with life and hopefully you can come back and let off some steam with the rest of us remaining at BBF.

You have a hard job but I know it is in your blood and you would not be happy doing anything but being a firemen. I am sure your sister will be OK after the treatment, they are better at getting it now days than they were 20 years ago. Things are slow here at BBF but we keep going.
Good to see your alive. Have a Great Christmas.