Kithitter,

You made my day....I have seen you guys in action, and been on calls with FFs....YOU are a different breed (and you did some of those cute ruthless tricks on me--funny---yeah, right...I am not a fire fighter, and am more of a wuss...I hate barbeque grills and burning barrels) I would share my stories but I would get in trouble. However, you always, always, put my safety first, at any 'scene' and never let me get into trouble (which isn't easy, I am short on brains there...read my icy water post).

You are not a wuss....and yes, you are in a bind...you have THAT kind of personality.....I am glad I haven't gotten a lot of 'mercy' until lately, as I really don't like it...

You are who you are...thank God there are people like you.

You are not sick for lack of faith, in God, in yourself or in life...Illness isn't otherworldly....it is simply distributed here on this planet, and our attitudes do not confer immunity. I have learned in my years, that disease is indiscriminate.

People get sick, diseases progress, and we cope, some days better than others.

You are not 'disabled'....you just can't do the job you used to do, nor most other jobs, not for lack of trying....but you mentioned your most important job...being a grandfather and passing on all that grit to the next generation. They are going to need it. You are 'alternatively abled'...and you have purpose, which is the driving force for life....all life.

You and I and I am sure others, do not worry about how we will go out, as most of us, have had several auditions, and know what we are made of....we worry more about how we live....and how stong we appear, not to others, but to ourselves.

Thank you for your story...your inspiration....and most of all, your service. Your suffering now was earned in service to others, which is often taken for granted.

You can't fight who you are, you will likely take more lumps in life because of your personal inner strength, and the fact that it no longer reconciles with the reality of your physical condition.....You could bench press 4 of me....heh, heh, but was a time when I could out run you. LOL---there is a little back at ya!

You are too cantakerous to whine...you can call it whatever you want (just don't type it on here or it will get deleted)....and do as much of it as you care to....