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Captains stripes for the memorial. It always makes me cry, because I am human and so were they. 
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Would I do it all again? The tragic images I still dream of, the cancer it gave me....the rewards of saving a life. Yes, In a heartbeat! In my life and 29,000 km on my bike I never left an injured animal. I never refused an abandoned animal.... or abandoned person that asked for my help. I would finally find out the answer as to why they were left . Finding the answer always gave me peace.  Looking north down MacDonald @ King Edward in 1940. The bike route on King Edward was not there neither was any development along MacDonald well into Kitsilano. Although the center median along King Edward already existed. Early in my career, we arrived at an intensely involved house fire. I was assigned to search the upper floor. On my way up the pitch black stairs I fell through them, as the fire raging underneath had burned them out. I was wedged in the stairs between my chest and air bottle, the fire burning me underneath. My arms were trapped and unable to reach my radio. I was well trained for situations like this and how not to panic. I would either run out of air, burn alive, or be rescued. I focused on the last choice and waited as calmly as I could. Two years later I was diagnosed with cancer. After the Doctors told me it could be terminal, I was devastated. I could not relax, think properly, I felt a sense of hopelessness and panic, like I was trapped. I was not trained for this at all. So I trained myself using yoga, meditation, and exercise. I replaced negative thoughts with positive thoughts all the time using cognitive behaviour therapy. I became calm and ready to deal with whatever would happen. Its highly unlikely you will ever be trapped in burning stairs, but its possible you will be diagnosed with cancer, face an illness or a loss, even a broken heart. Now you know how you can deal with and train for it, because you can control your mind and likely your destiny.  Four years ago crossing the Blue Mountains in Australia I was hungry, cold, tired and scraped up with abrasions from a crash. I passed a farmhouse at dusk, and asked for some water for my camp. Margaret invited me right in, to stay at her BnB. She treated me like her long lost son, and reminded me of my long lost Mom.. Her husband had died a few years earlier and she seemed lonely, but so happy to have company. I had a nice warm shower with nice smelling soaps, and meals and a bed I will never forget. She made me stay a few days. As I rode away with tears, I thought how I likely will never her see her again yet loved her so much......just like my mom. |
My JourneyI am a fire captain and cancer survivor. Current LocationIn memory of the
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