The sights, sounds and Smells???

Most days a ray of sun at just the right angle, a toddler hand in hand with a sibling, the joyous laughter children chorus out while playing or wrestling with Dad is enough to make me smile. But every so often something new and different brings me back. Usually it is a song on the radio or dialogue in a movie but last night and this morning it is the scent of my hair. Yes, folks I said my hair.
As I laid my head down on the pillow the smell from the smores fire wafted up. All I could think was Fire Fire GOOOOOOD! Ha, if you are not nor ever have been a firefighter that might not mean much to you. Kinda fire lingo there.
Once upon a day like my husband I was a firefighter. Actually for 8 long years. I was on the first out engine many times, on the nozzle for fires, and more. I climbed into smashed cars to care for a patient, sat bedside a dying woman, and gave CPR even shocking a few with the AED. I learned how to drive the pumper, taught probationary trainee's, rode in the ambulance with medics to help save just one life in the most dire of circumstances. I cannot count the number of times I did just that and more. I remember vividly the violent of calls where not everyone walked away, and even was part of a miraculous save or two. During that time I completed my EMT (emergency medical technician) training, and also the Fire Academy. The academy could be considered my college party days. Though I was married to my now husband then,with no children and him working nights I stayed out late and partied it up with those boys and one other female. Great memories which I will NEVER ever forget. Probably the only time before being a mother that I felt connected and part of something with a team who all cared about me.
But back to fire good my favorite call to respond to was and still is brush fires. The smell of burning limbs, and trees. The adrenaline rush pushed on by the bright red flames too hot to touch. The various colors of smoke filling the air as a blinking sign telling us which directions to go. The power in my arms and legs as I rack a fire line, or spray water with the Indian pack on my back. The mind numbing burn of all that hard work put to use. The black soot on my face, my sweaty hands and legs coupled with pounding rhythm of my beating heart blocking out everything else around while I stopped for a mandatory EMS check and drank some Gatorade. The knowledge that when all that fire is gone I made a difference in someone or somethings life and property. The quiet ride back to the station to do a minor amount of cleanup before heading home awaiting the next call. Mmmmmm that simple smell of fire on my clothes and hair drew me back there.
I am still a State certified firefighter, though I let my EMT license lapse, a large regret. I am no longer a volunteer so it would cost me 300 plus dollars as well as 6 months of schooling time and effort to achieve again. Low on the list of things I want to do right now.
Yeah, strolling down memory lane just as I drifted to sleep and awoke this am wasn't such a bad thing. It is nice to relive the good old days. I am pretty sure I will blink and these up and down days with small kiddos time will be gone and I will relive these sights, sounds and smells with a smile too.