November 8, 2011

Truck 14

After the usual morning cleanup, I began viewing online which firehouses were picked by those individuals with a higher seniority number than mine.  It seemed to go very well at first.  Many of my first picks were not even touched.  31's included.  I thought there was hope that I could stay right where I was at since I graduated from the academy.  But in the afternoon, that all changed.  One by one and shift by shift, my top picks were gone.  13's, 30's and 32's I did not even have a chance at.  I knew that going in.  Then it was 36's, then 5's.  Some others as well.  I couldn't watch anymore.  I was pacing around the firehouse.  Coming back to the screen I saw that Engine 6 was still available.  Perhaps?  Then around 1530, the rear phone rang here at 7's.  Gingery called to inform me what I already knew.  As he took the last spot at 5's, I had to decide on Engine 6 on the Blue, or Truck 14 on the Green.  So, after a long and agonizing day watching the "draft" unfold, I was fortunate enough to pick Rolling Thunder.  Truck Fourteen on the green.

At first, I was second guessing myself.  Engine 6 would have been really nice, but the Blue shift deterred me away.  Just too many holidays next year.  And the other, well, there was no downside to Truck 14.  The positives, well the green shift has only a couple holidays next year, the Captain is solid, I'd still be in the fourth battalion and now I'm even closer to home than 31's.  Here's to becoming a truckman.

Byrge

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