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I can’t thank y’all enough for chipping in more than $2,000 to @matthew_rep’s campaign.
I promised another story, so here’s one:
How many of you keep actual gloves in your car’s glove compartment? Isn’t the name kind of dated?
Not for firefighters like my dad.
I promised another story, so here’s one:
How many of you keep actual gloves in your car’s glove compartment? Isn’t the name kind of dated?
Not for firefighters like my dad.
Growing up, the glove box in our Jeep and our old pickup were always stocked with gloves — black or white or blue nitrile or latex surgical gloves.
They’re still in his glovebox today.
They’re still in his glovebox today.
This is because firefighters are also trained EMTs & they’re never really off the job.
In addition to being a professional firefighter, my dad has also done double duty as a volunteer. First in rural Pulaski Co. where we started out, then in rural Saline Co., where we are now.
In addition to being a professional firefighter, my dad has also done double duty as a volunteer. First in rural Pulaski Co. where we started out, then in rural Saline Co., where we are now.
It means the gloves are always there, on the job or not.
When you’re a firefighter’s kid, you learn to hope those gloves never come out. You learn that those gloves mean someone is having a bad day, or maybe the worst day of their life.
When you’re a firefighter’s kid, you learn to hope those gloves never come out. You learn that those gloves mean someone is having a bad day, or maybe the worst day of their life.
But those gloves also teach you the meaning of “hero.” Because when you’re in the truck or the Jeep, it means you’re with your dad on his days off. It also means that if those gloves come out, your dad is putting on his superhero uniform.
No mask, no cape. Just gloves.
No mask, no cape. Just gloves.
I remember my dad putting them on when we saw the 16 year old who’d just wrecked his new car. He had a bloody nose and his arm was probably broken. But he was going to be okay.
My dad was there to tell him that.
My dad was there to tell him that.
I remember the time he responded to a stabbing. A man with an arterial bleed was hurt badly, and dad rushed in with no gloves. The man warned him off, saying “I’m positive, man.”
I didn’t know what that meant until later. I didn’t know what those gloves really meant until later.
I didn’t know what that meant until later. I didn’t know what those gloves really meant until later.
I don’t know if the gloves were on when my dad performed CPR on a man having a heart attack in a parking lot.
I do know the guy made it.
I don’t know if they were on when he rushed to a trailer where a veteran was intending to self-harm.
I do know the vet made it out.
I do know the guy made it.
I don’t know if they were on when he rushed to a trailer where a veteran was intending to self-harm.
I do know the vet made it out.
Those gloves are always there in the glove box, even today.
I support firefighters. I know their hearts. I know their stories.
That’s why I’m supporting @matthew_rep and why this weekend’s effort is important to me. Give Matt one more push to the finish line.
I support firefighters. I know their hearts. I know their stories.
That’s why I’m supporting @matthew_rep and why this weekend’s effort is important to me. Give Matt one more push to the finish line.
Matthew put on a different kind of gloves by taking on this campaign — let’s make sure he has the resources to finish the fight. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/firefighterstallings
