consumed with the deaths of firefighterst

Today, on my Daddy and my sis-in-law Donna's birthday

I am consumed with the stories and deaths of all the firefighters

who were killed fighting wild fires.

So many men, so many good men,

Many under the age of 30.

One father of 4 small children under the age of 6.

I watch a news reel of his wife this morning

speaking of text messages they sent to each other on

Sunday prior to his death.

These 19 men knew they were going to die

together, just the way they worked, together.

Somehow they knew they were not coming out.

I just cannot imagine the questions those little children

ask this morning and every morning their daddy does 

not come home.

On the birthday of my daddy I think,

"I am glad I had him until I was an adult of 20"

He was 45 when I was born so the chance of him

living to see me to adulthood, having been shot

in WWII and living with its complications,

I was a lucky one. When he died I remember

being upset with the facts that he would not walk me down 

the aisle, he would not hold my children in his lap.

This morning, I am thankful for the time I did have with him.

The times he spoiled me rotten, knowing that

each day I stayed home from school meant a new

color book, colors or magazine from his grocery shopping.

These little children, they will not have that.

Their memories of their daddy will be those told by their

Mommy. Prayers to all the firefighters who are nothing

but heroes to the world today.