Thinking back, i never would have thought i'd be doing something like this. Friends and family couldn't believe it either. But here i am, about to get married to this wonderful firefighter and i'm along for the ride.

BEEP BEEP BEEP... BEEP BEEP BEEP
We live to hear that pager go off, even in the middle of the night. I jump out of bed to get dressed as my mate recites what the call is in a half-woken stupor.

If we get a major call like MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident), fire, or "not breathing" panic mode is initiated. I jump around like crazy trying to find clothes and shoes, usually followed by a "Oh shit oh shit oh shit!". There is a frantic mad dash to the door, then a sprint to the station a few hundred yards away. Depending on the call, we jump into our turnouts, or put some medical gloves on. My mate and i wait for our other regular volunteer, then we crowd into the medical or fire truck. I still have a major fear of talking on the radio, so i usually leave that to someone else (lol). Then the fun of riding with sirens! People everywhere pulling over for you as you're weaving through whatever traffic is there. Then the fun part. Getting on scene. Depending on the call.. i usually work with hose for fires, for medical i usually write the report up, or if need be do cpr.

Why do i do it? I dont just do it because my mate does it. I get a big thrill out of going on scene and seeing everything happen. Heart beat is racing, call it a high if you will. I also love helping people. Its also very fun.

In the year i've been doing this the most hardest part of all this, i think, is seeing death. Death is a real scary thing, and seeing it in real life is a very different experience. You try desperately to save someone, and it doesn't work. You see the body, lifeless, and you know they are not waking up. You see people mourn for their loved ones. I hate those calls. You feel like you've failed everyone for not bringing them back. I feel responsible that they died, like what if i got to the station quicker? What if their death was due to me not getting the equipment to them faster? Or maybe i could have saved a few seconds when i was frantically trying to find a light switch because it was too dark to work.

But then, the other times you actually save someones life. And then they come back a few weeks or months later to say thank you. I love that, it makes me feel so good.

I can say that this has opened up a hole new experience for me. I'm actually more social then i've ever been in my life. And this is all thanks to my mate, who's been doing this since he was only a few weeks old.. strapped in a car seat on a firetruck.