Community
2019 Unified Fire Authority Firefighter Convention
Have I told you about my garage/studio that has been under construction for 13 years?
(It’s now a “talking point'' during our monthly therapy sessions.)
Therapist: “Tell me Amy, how do really FEEEEEL about the unfinished projects around your home?”
Amy: (unintelligible mutterings with some disturbing guttural sound effects) “Ahhhhhhhhhhh!”
Therapist: “Interesting…”
Michael conducting his campaign for Firefightercancersupport.org - 30 push-ups in 30 days
Therapist: “Tell me Michael, how do really FEEEEEL about the unfinished projects around your home?”
Michael: “Well, I … (looks at Amy). To be honest, I…. (looks at Amy again). Well, the truth of the matter is… (no longer can look at Amy).”
Therapist: “... yes?”
Michael: “I just like doing the projects myself. I mean, I really like doing them myself. I just gotta….” (proceeds to express a series of report deadlines and meetings to attend) (Reaches over to grab Amy’s hand, gives her puppy dog eyes, begs for forgiveness…)
Amy: (more unintelligible mutterings and what may appear to be a growl or two… )
Therapist: “interesting…”
A Michael-inspired Firefighter, Tony Sabelc from Pag Island in Croatia, conducting HIS OWN 30 for 30 pushup campaign for Firefightercancersupport.org.
You see, my big-hearted husband has 4 part-time volunteer jobs in addition to his full-time firefighter position. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a believer of Community Service. I teach it to my students. We’re an active group in my school and surrounding area but… I gotta get a garage/studio completed!
Benjamin and his crew of friends conducting the 30 for 30 pushup campaign for
Firefightercancersupport.org)
The problem is, my husband has a contagious personality. He wants to be around people and they want to be around him. In the bigger scheme of things, this is a good thing. I mean, I suppose… (hrmmpf)
Last night, board members of the Emigration Canyon Community Council honored him for his service and treated us both to a lovely dinner. It was a wonderful evening filled with story-telling, growing up in the canyon, raising families, hikes taken from their backyards, and skiing. This community is composed of sweet, kind, community conscious people who have developed a long-term relationship with their Unified Fire Authority Representative, but moreso, Friend, Michael Conn.
The Emigration Canyon Community Council (ECCC) provides a voice for the Canyon and recommendations to the Metro Township and SLCo on services & residents' needs.
The forefront of their attention often includes the most frightening of thoughts: wildfire.
Learning from the 2018 Paradise Canyon fire reinforced the urgency to be as safe as possible utilizing preventable means.
This is where Michael comes in. His 10 years with ECCC have enlivened FireWise programs, Six Things You Should Know about Living with Wildfire in Emigration Canyon, and utilizing Unified Fire Authority offerings such as Wildfire Risk Assessments.
Working with communities who love living in the mountains throughout increasing climate changes doesn’t have to be frightening, but it does require persistent awareness and this is where Michael comes in. Bi-monthly meetings, long conversations with board members who hold political positions, the endless report writing, home and property assessments, meeting each community household during yearly FireWise pancake breakfast events, etc…
He ended the honored evening by stating to the board that although he was passing the baton to another firefighter, he would not become invisible. He will always be available.
Therapist: “Amy, NOW, how does this make you FEEEEEL?”
Amy: “I know, I know. I understand… (residual grumblings somehow escape from under my breath). It’s who he is. I can’t ask him to be less than he is.”
Learning to see people and love them for exactly who they are is a practice in and of itself. Sometimes this practice much more difficult than yoga poses but often much more rewarding. Master yoga teacher Judith Lasater said, "My gurus all share my last name." In other words, sometimes those who are closest to us both push our buttons and also push us to grow.
Who are the people in your life who you're invited to practice witnessing and loving just as they are?
