DANCING WITH FLAMES - Opening segment (Scroll down for previous chapters)
I've always been told that a dog is man’s best friend. But some dogs I wouldn't want as friends. This is why most of the dogs I know are just casual acquaintances.
Even though there are many who have found dogs to be wonderful companions, I really believe that fire is man’s best friend. What man doesn’t like fire? Man has been fascinated with fire since the beginning of time, probably earlier; certainly earlier than the invention of the dog.
Fire has that magical, magnetic pull that attracts a man. I, myself, felt this magnetism at an early age, when I would often have to anchor myself to some fixed object to keep from being pulled into a drawer full of matches.
Just the other day I heard a man say he could watch a fire for hours. Sure, this man may be in need of treatment, but it just shows you the power of this bond between man and fire.
Why do you think we celebrate the fourth of July? It’s so a man can mortgage his house and buy enough fireworks to light up three states.
This attraction to fire is what led our local fire department to call in firefighters from neighboring towns, as well as several smokejumpers, to quell a raging grass fire behind the old farmhouse one summer. Our son said he was just attempting to burn the garbage, but it looked more like a cookout, with dry grass as the main ingredient. His fire blackened an entire field. We were thankful the nearby homes were spared. My wife said he was just following in my footsteps.
The following summer, we had an encore performance by my good friend, Ozzie, who was watching our farmhouse while we were away. Ozzie claimed he was just making another attempt on our garbage. Surveying the blackened field, it was obvious Ozzie had made a mockery of Fire Prevention Week. He said it felt like he was re-living his childhood. The fire chief said that explained Ozzie's narrow escape from youth, and why he had to apply several times for adulthood.
They also caused me to look back on my own youth. I had to cover my eyes...
To be continued...check back soon
Why do you think we celebrate the fourth of July? It’s so a man can mortgage his house and buy enough fireworks to light up three states.
This attraction to fire is what led our local fire department to call in firefighters from neighboring towns, as well as several smokejumpers, to quell a raging grass fire behind the old farmhouse one summer. Our son said he was just attempting to burn the garbage, but it looked more like a cookout, with dry grass as the main ingredient. His fire blackened an entire field. We were thankful the nearby homes were spared. My wife said he was just following in my footsteps.
The following summer, we had an encore performance by my good friend, Ozzie, who was watching our farmhouse while we were away. Ozzie claimed he was just making another attempt on our garbage. Surveying the blackened field, it was obvious Ozzie had made a mockery of Fire Prevention Week. He said it felt like he was re-living his childhood. The fire chief said that explained Ozzie's narrow escape from youth, and why he had to apply several times for adulthood.
These fires made me think of the tremendous respect and admiration I have for firemen, putting their lives on the line every day to save and protect others.
They also caused me to look back on my own youth. I had to cover my eyes...
To be continued...check back soon
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