Sunday, May 13, 2012
Parallel
It continually fascinates me how we as dispatchers (and officers) tend to live in these parallel universes. We co-exist with the everyday public, celebrate birthdays, holidays and family milestones, same as everyone. However, once we put on our uniform or headset, the world shifts and our view becomes reset.
Today is Mother's Day, a day where families all across the country celebrate the Matriarch of the family, some may be bound by blood, others by choice to these women who have shaped their lives, loved and cared for them. Today, I went to the Mother's Service at church then to my parents for dinner. My brother and I purchased the requisite cards and presents (mine was a 9 week old Labrador Puppy, because I was afraid she was getting empty nest syndrome) then changed clothes and was sitting behind a radio by 1500.
Now here, barely an hour in, we've had multiple calls referencing custody, exchanges, and arguements. It's as though this is the parallel universe's way of celebrating, sad as it may be.
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I think anytime you have a job where you are required to work 'any' day of the week, you lose a sense of holiday. I remember the first time I worked on Thanksgiving, it was so hard. I knew that while my family was all celebrating, I was at work. By the time I got home and ate leftovers it was depressing. After a few years, it became a day like any other, same as Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThat is so true, I've only been doing this for 3 or so years and already I can see myself not being in the "holiday" mood or treating everyday as though they were the same. I'll have to reset myself! :)
ReplyDeleteI like working holidays, actually. Partly because I'm guaranteed to be busy (nothing brings out the 'love' in families like a good celebration, especially one that involves alcohol) and partly because we have a lot of fun at our work on holidays. Especially the big ones. I suppose it helps that I'm single and have no kids, but I actually request Thanksgiving/Christmas usually -- for the turkey dinner. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is true, I guess the bleeding heart in me laments the loss of oblivion! But you have a good point, I always have as much fun at work with my Blue Family on the holidays as I do with my blood family (if not more!)
ReplyDeleteOh I have to agree this definitely gives you a good excuse to avoid holidays with 'THE family' consisting of crazy sibs and spouses/kids, but I always miss being with MY little family.
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