THE COST OF BEING A HERO

365 Days of Squatting and Deadlifting for Shakey

Tomorrow is Friday the 17th of April.  And after an appointment with my back Dr. I will be heading to my garage and SQUAT/DEADLIFT for the 5th day in a row this week.  My squats will be somewhere over 300# and the deadlift over 405#.  Then I will load up my squat stands, barbell and weight plates and head to Parrish, Fla to visit Rachel's family for the weekend and do the same thing each day there (hopefully in a garage and not the driveway).  I have not put more than 350# on the squat bar this year yet due to back and knee issues, in fact I met with a Orthopedic last Fri., and after x-rays and the normal "your knees are horrible" chat he recommended double knee replacement within the next 12 months. I write this NOT for sympathy but for you reading to understand that these 2 movements are very hard on my body and I have chosen to suffer a bit daily (365 days) for Shakey. And maybe raise some money for the family while doing this.  This blog is also in the memory of my brother Orange County Firefighters I never said "goodbye" too.  Men who I lived with, ate with, shared children's birthdays with, hugged tight at funerals and protected citizen's with daily and WHO I MISS. The idea of a blog came with the urging and support of other FF's in hopes to bring awareness, support and a means of daily communication for us all.  We are a brother and sisterhood, a select "few" chosen to serve others, and it seems somewhere we lost track of this.  I have a short time left in this 30 some odd year journey here and I would like to know I gave you my best. We have chosen a profession that takes from us, many things we can never get back.  We see the worst of humanity and we are expected to fix IT!  BUT what we have with each other, what we share with each other is a bond more powerful than most people will ever get to have...THAT is our blessing for doing this JOB!  NOT fame, NOT huge pay days but a BOND that only those who have battled together, saved lives together...lost lives together can share...and some times we forget this blessing we have been given.  I did not take the time to see my brother's because I was scared, hurt and angry to see them go...I didn't want to believe my strong brother's were sick.  So I guess in a way this is my gift to you brother's and sister's and to Shakey and his family.  I am going to see  this through and suffer a lil daily to give back, to remember, to never forget why we were chosen to do what we do.