A little background: I did a reconn of the vicinity before dusk to see where the Firemen were hanging out. If I were blind I could sniff out a fire engine! Yes, after a bit of eyelash flickering, sashay-ing and good old fashioned sweet talk I was about to close the deal to get a ride! I wasn't allowed to ride with Santa; something about Mrs. Clause, blah blah blah. I wasn't sure how committed Captain Matt was to my cause so I threw in an offer of cookies. He said they needed to stay fit so I offered boxes of clementines. SCORE!
The plan was to meet up after Santa got dropped off.
I was there.
Santa was there. The Engine was there.
The photos are not great because my heart was doing a salsa beat, my hands were shaking with excitement and I really couldn't see straight.
Captain Matt offered to ride me down the street and drop me off in front of the gallery. I had my 'people' lined up and ready for my JOY RIDE photo opp of a lifetime.
In retrospect, I should have known those little children would be my downfall. As if they've never seen a fireman or a fire truck up close. They took sooooo long to look inside my truck the cab and all the gear and shiny valves and buttons. Criminy they are always doing field trips to the stations or having Fire Safety Day during the school year WITH MY TAX DOLLARS.
FINALLY, Captain Matt was getting ready to kick out the little rug rats--tell the parents that time was up. I was applying my new red lipstick and just about to step inside when I heard...
'beeeee baaaaaaaaaaw beeeeeeeenk' and all the beepers starting squawking...oh nononononononono...please no...I AM
THIS CLOSE
TO MY DREAM COMING TRUE.
THE DRIVER YELLS "..WE GOTTA 5315...LET'S ROLL"
AND JUST LIKE THAT MY DREAM EVAPORATES INTO THE NIGHT LIKE A CANDLE IN THE WIND...
Later, after much consolation with a good Oregon Pinot Noir I remembered the promise of clementines..
"Oh my darlin'
Oh my darlin'
Oh my dar-lin' clementines
A couple box-es just might get me
Riding 'shotgun' on Engine 9... "
stay tuned...this ain't over
xo lulu
