WOW it's a scorcher here today!! Our thermometer outside reads 104....unfortunately we are just now moving into the hottest part of the day. I am writing this post that has been on my heart today about my husband (& your husband) who work in extremely hot & dry conditions. I don't know how he does it!! Yesterday, there were some injuries on his fire due to the extreme heat conditions. I checked the weather on his fire yesterday and it was around 109 with low humidity. Remember that is the temperature from the sun, then add exertion and near fire.......yikes!! I feel very blessed right now to have a window a/c and fans. I can put on shorts & a tank top, he's wearing long dark (green) pants, a t-shirt & a nomex long sleeve shirt. He is also carrying a very heavy pack on his back. I can drink a nice glass of cold ice water.....he's drinking water from a canteen!! While I can shower and cool off, he's gone days without a shower. While I can stand near my closet and choose what to wear today, he's wearing the same (dirty) clothes for a few days. I come home each afternoon to take a nap or head to bed early when I'm tired, he's working 16 hour days with 8 hours of sleep (on the ground). I get to relax watching a movie, he's only heard radio traffic from the fireline & morning briefings for 2 weeks. When I get overwhelmed or tired, I can cry, he carrys on with his daily routine/responsiblities. It's these sacrafices he makes, that makes me very thankful for him. I pray each day for his continued strength and protection in the extreme situations. So I encourage you to share with your husband how much you appreciate him for all the extreme conditions he puts himself in for you & your family. Little words of praise can mean so much!!
While we can only imagine what it's like for them out there, we have no incline of the reality of it. Count your blessings, be thankful and love your husband too pieces, for all he does!!
2 comments:
Thank you for reminding us of those things. I think about all of the times I whine when it's only 90 degrees out. A few years ago I sat in on a 130/190 class and got to participate in the field excercise. It was about 70 degrees and I was wearing borrowed nomex and VERY heavy boots. We only cut line for a little over an hour. It was hot and exhausting even when it was only 70 degrees and we were no where near a fire. I came home wiped out and very sore. It really put it into perspective for me how he must feel working for 16 hours in technicallly 120degree conditions a lot of the time with little sleep and all of the other conditions you were talking about. I am in awe of him sometimes. And incredibly PROUD! That being said it is good to be reminded. Thanks.
Merci
Thank You for making me realize my job is not as difficult as my husband. I have been out in the field early in my days. How I have forgotten those long hot days and short nights of rest. Remembering eating mustard sandwiches because the meat and cheese had melted together and was so hot you couldn't eat it. My husband and I have been married for 15 yrs. And still to this day it difficult to see him go off on assignments. His 2 days of R&R go so quickly. Knowing when that phone rings he will be gone again. To every wife please enjoy every day and cherish every moment together. It seems like my husband and I had just gotten married,but looking at our grown children makes me relize where has the time gone. Pray for all the men and women and fighting fires.
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