Ugh. Firefighters.

[CheshireGrin]

Note: this story has a happy ending.

So most of you probably know that my fiance is a firefighter. He was working a day shift at the fire station the other day, which means he generally gets home 10-15 minutes before my alarm goes off for me to get ready for work in the evening. Except yesterday, when my alarm went off, I was surprised to find that he wasn't home yet. Okay, no biggie. Figured he just got delayed.

So I go about getting ready for work, and it gets to where he's about half an hour late. Text him, no answer. Not really worried yet.

Then I happened to sign onto FB and saw a post from a friend of mine (who is also on the fire department in Town A with Fi, but happened to be working in Town B that day), which says, "Wish I could run lights and sirens from Town B to Town A!" Umm...WHY? What's going on in Town A?

I figured out from other comments on her status that there was apparently a fire there, but at the time I saw the post, it was already like an hour and a half later. So I figured, okay, he ran out on a call, which ran past shift change, and obviously he wouldn't have a chance to let me know if he's in the middle of fighting a fire.

But of course, every time I know he's at a fire, there's always that little nagging paranoia of waiting for That Phone Call.

And then my cell phone rang (or would have, if I had remembered to take it off of silent when I woke up), which I noticed just in time to see that it was an unfamiliar phone number, but not in time to answer it. Seconds later, the house phone rang. Same phone number.

And I swear for a second just as I answered it, my heart stopped - until I heard Fi say, "Hi honey!" He was calling from the cell phone in the ambulance to say that they'd run back-to-back calls but were now finally heading back to the station and he just wanted to call and let me know he was okay.

This all sounds incredibly dumb now that I'm typing it out. I need luvvy to come in here and validate me.

[saraandmichael]

i would have had the same sinking feeling as you. i cannot imagine the stress that would put someone under.

i'm glad he is good and that he called to let you know =)

[snickers]

I can totally understand why you would be worried!
Glad everything turned out to be just fine.

[CheshireGrin]

Thanks for helping me not feel like a crazy person. LOL :-)

[kaybee85]

Umm, I get worried when H is late from work because he drives a scooter from campus to home. You are 100000x more justified in your worries. I'm glad everything was okay...hate that feeling

[donutsmakemegonuts]

DH is a police officer, so I know the feeling! Most of the time when he's late getting home he's just been bullshitting with his coworkers, thank goodness!

[sarahswim]

My H is a firefighter, too. I totally get you. Most of the time I'm able to keep my mind from wandering "there", but it happens sometimes and I start to panic until I hear back from him. Glad everything was all right!

[mala]

I totally get it. H is a paramedic and firefighter and I've had a few of those moments myself when he's been late.

[beautifulfields12]

My husband is a call firefighter. I know what you mean. I usually turn our scanner on when he goes out on a call to get a heads up If the shit hits the fan.

[flamingeaux]

Nope I totally get it. H is a corrections officer, and I have been known to panic if he's not home when he's supposed to be.

[medicmommy]

Jun 16, 2013 8:04:47 GMT -5 CheshireGrin said:

But of course, every time I know he's at a fire, there's always that little nagging paranoia of waiting for That Phone Call.

Glad he came home safely! I always get nervous when H is on fire calls. I've been in EMS for 10 years and him for about 4. The role reversal of being the one sitting at home during a call KILLS me. I turn on my ambulance radio to stalk him. Every. Time.

[wildfloweragain]

That's why we had to institute a "You WILL call me/have someone call if you are at the hospital" rule. Because I was worried all the time. Now I tell myself no news is good news. Also we have news that runs every 30 min so I watch it while getting ready in the am so I know what he's been to over night. No big fires = good news.

Glad things are okay.

[midnightmare81]

You are totally validated! H isn't a firefighter, but he was in the military. We were lucky that he had internet service while he was deployed. His job didn't require him to leave base except for a couple times, so we talked on a pretty regular schedule. It was great, but on the rare times where the internet would be down or he would have to work late, there was always that little worry in the back of my mind. Since we had internet and talked on FB, he rarely called. The biggest scare I had was when something had happened at the base and the internet was cut off. They were letting everyone call and let their families know they were ok. Well I was at work and missed the call by like a fraction of a second. I tried calling it back (since I had no idea if it WAS him or someone else entirely) and it directed me to a phone tree for a military base. I think my heart stopped for a few moments. Thankfully only a few minutes later he was able to try calling again and I knew he was ok. But those moments in between were enough to take at least a few hours off my life...

[luvvy]

Holy crap! Yes, you are 100% validated... a month later. Ha!

I HATE HATE HATE that feeling. The only good part of being on the same fire department as your spouse/brother/BFF or even having your BFF still on the department with your brother is that you have at least 10 other phone numbers to call and see if they are ok.

Welcome to the world of being a fire spouse. It's a roller coaster.

[tripleshot]

Why do people bump old threads?

[luvvy]

Because I can. Deal with it.

[muffin0]

Jul 18, 2013 8:17:37 GMT -5 luvvy said:

Because I can. Deal with it.

And boom goes the dynamite!!

Lol

[luvvy]

muffin0 - G starts is ISR lessons on the 29th. This lady has rescheduled us 3 times but that means I get his first week free. Who knew finding reusable swim diapers would be so dang hard.

[karmasabiotch]

I would have been worried too.

[lightbulbsun]

Ugh, I can imagine that would be scary. I'm glad he's alright.

[Saint Monica]

He is your H now!

[muffin0]

Jul 18, 2013 8:25:29 GMT -5 luvvy said:

muffin0 - G starts is ISR lessons on the 29th. This lady has rescheduled us 3 times but that means I get his first week free. Who knew finding reusable swim diapers would be so dang hard.

Awesome!! Our teacher sells them, I have found them at target as well.

Good luck!! It's terrifying but after spending last week at the beach and half the days in the pool it was worth every penny.

Take a Xanax