I’m busy with an edit, so I’ll keep this short. I rode on a firetruck tonight. Ok, a busy girl’s gotta take a break here and there. Yep, this is what did with one of my little breaks. I went down the street and hopped on board a big truck for a swing around the hood to mark the beginning of Fire Prevention Week.
I was with my neice and nephew and line of other kids and adults sitting between the ladders on top of the truck. It was dark and the truck honked a bit along the way. But for the most part, the riders were silent. I remembered this from my childhood. Quietly watching the world from a high perch. Seeing it differently than ever before.
But what I saw differently was how odd this was. Kids that we strap into cars, put helmets on, and pad in every way possible were sitting willy-nilly on top of a firetruck cruising through town. No seatbelts. No safety bars. No special seats. Just some common sense. Which is really what fire prevention week is about, I suppose.
Discouragement Kitten said,
October 10, 2006 at 2:08 pm
I thought there was a fire last night. How do you keep on top of all this community bullshit?
julieluongo said,
October 10, 2006 at 2:18 pm
I’m sorry. I should have called you. I don’t know how I didn’t immediately think ‘DK’ when I thought ‘firetruck rides.’
Discouragement Kitten said,
October 10, 2006 at 2:32 pm
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/41917
julieluongo said,
October 10, 2006 at 3:11 pm
That was my dad as a kid. Only the airplane never diverted his attention.
sarah said,
October 12, 2006 at 1:08 pm
Speaking of safety, Sheamus came off of his last fire truck ride of the night, under the ever watchful and constant eye of his Auntie Julie, WITH A FAT LIP! Yup, whacked it off of the ladder on the ride.
julieluongo said,
October 14, 2006 at 12:00 am
That seems like the fault of the Official Fire Safety Officer. Somone could have padded that railing (and installed seatbelts).
sarah said,
October 14, 2006 at 11:18 pm
Uh-huh…OR his Aunt could recommend to him that he not put his mouth on the ladder. But, just as you described that scene…all three of you were sitting up there in quiet, spaced-out wonder.