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Queen Elizabeth park less than 2 km from my home.   We stood at attention all in unison an amazing powerful feeling being among almost 1000 firefighters on our main downtown Vancouver street . Standing at attention in the sudden hailstorm, the hail pellets bouncing off our dress caps and tiny white hail balls sticking to our dress blues.It felt so sad but comforting to be here ...It felt so good to be with my brothers and sisters again... I felt proud in full dress uniform again. A giant rainbow appeared through the sky just as the fire trucks and funeral procession slowly crawled and by and we each saluted.I knew what the rainbow meant, It was a magical moment. We all marched along behind in solidarity like soldiers all together in perfect time, a long tightly knit line, our shoes hitting the pavement together at once, the sidewalks filled with stunned onlookers... it was an amazing funeral for an amazing firefighter.It was bittersweet returning in the afternoon rushing back to the living nightmare of the gloomy sad sub basement treatment room at the cancer centre going through my third battle . Attending a funeral for a firefighter that died of work related cancer and then rushing for treatment of my own work related cancer. I was so rushed I wore my dress uniform. Everyone looked at me surprised, the doctors and nurses, the people on cots in gowns the very sick, I could here whispers. I felt so bad and embarassed. I felt bad because we usually arrived fully dressed and ready to help them.... and all these poor cancer patients really needed help. There was absolutely nothing I could do for them but sadly sit amongst them waiting for my turn . I wondered what my funeral might be like. I felt some solace knowing I was determined get out of here.... I will get back on my bike again and finish my journey....The two most important days of you life are the day you were born and the day you find out why! That day I found out why.
 I have rescued a lot of animals on my cycle journey, that people just drove by . I tended a lot of injured people in my job as well but animals are almost more difficult. This time, I got to show my nephew what looks like a giant stingray stuck by low tide. It's actually called a giant skate and they grow up to 125 lbs and 8ft. long. People would just walk by watching him slowly die.
We kept him wet pulled him into that tide pool... and he lived to skate another day. A good lesson on a sunny Vancouver beach. This is Andrew. He works on the front lines at my Tim Hortons, behind a plexi glass screen, to protect him from a deadly virus. He is only 14 years old and removed his mask just for this picture. He works long hours and really hard for very little money. I gave him a $5 tip and a firefighters tshirt for my coffee, and he smiled so wide his braces almost locked up. In my eyes, an unsung hero! Thank you for your service Andrew!  Firefighters arrive from Mexico and Australia to help BC fight the worst fire season ever. Stay safe and thank you Bomberos. I unfortunately was the last person many people saw before they left this life. Im not proud of it I was doing my job. I still dream about many of them, especially the children. I usually wake in a sweat. As a matter of fact, if your death was an accident or sudden, chances are a first responder or a Doctor working on you, are the last people you may see. Over my career I kept a diary for my book . I came across a very similar word most people said as their last. It didn't matter if they were a Buddhist, Jew, Christian, Jehovah or a tough ass biker with skull rings and tattoos. Even a drug overdose where the person was clinically dead with no pulse or respiration and were given a dose of naloxone or narcan they would sometimes suddenly jump from the dead and yell.... GOD! First time it scares the shit out of you BUT it made me wonder where they really were the last 10 minutes. Yes God is the most popular last word. Oh God, help me God, God dammit, my God etc. The only exception was a child, they mostly wanted their Mama. Now I'm sure a lot of people think they know why, or wonder if I am promoting God (even though I have seen an angel when I was dying). I’m encouraging you to live your life with a good purpose, be kind and help others, so in the end you may certainly find your complete peace, look up, and smile and just say... Goodbye. Spirit in the sky...... https://youtu.be/S-lma2QSfjo  Everyone training for the summer hudred mile swim distance at Kits pool for Ironman. We found a great half mile time is 10:10. Thats 1 minute 40 seconds to each end! A total 20 minutes and 20 seconds for the mile. An honorable time of just over 1 hour for the full ironman swim (without turns). Its time this hero's picture is on our money. Terry Fox 40 years ago, made it halfway across Canada... on one leg.. running a marathon every day for cancer charity. His cancer that had taken his leg returned in his lungs near Thunder Bay, and sadly he stopped to die. The cancer that took his life is now cureable due to research . His legacy is closing in on 1 billion worth of donations. I think he is one of Canada's greatest heroes. His face of determination should be on our money to never forget him and his journey to find a cure. Terry Fox last words... if i don't make it...the Marathon of Hope must continue  |
Current LocationIn memory of the
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FIRE FIGHTER CYCLE
FIRE FIGHTER CYCLE
A Cycle Around the World For Cancer Charity
