Sally, aka seriously frivolous just a short little video to offer my congratulations on the big news!
PS - you'd totally rock the white gogo boots on your wedding day!
Friday, August 10
Wednesday, August 8
holding out for a hero
It's been a while since I've written about my brother. Recently however I've found myself talking about him more in various different conversations. Everyone always seems impressed when I say my brother's a firefighter.
I don't have the same sense of awe, as I prefer to have a healthy sense of denial about what my brother does. In my world, he doesn't run into burning buildings, he drives the truck at best. Big fires happen when my brother is off shift (which is statistically valid, considering he works seven out of 28 days).
Every now and then something comes along to shatter these illusions, both on a large and small scale.
I remember watching the live coverage of 9/11 and seeing the World Trade Centres collapse, knowing there were firefighters who were other people's brothers in there. Whenever there are accidents involving firefighters, I head straight to the phone and call my brother. I don't have much to say but just have to call.
A few months ago my mother sent me a photo of my brother that appeared in the Toronto Star. It was the back of him and another firefighter (their names are on the backs of the jackets like athletes so it was clear it was him). First my brother who is shorter than I am looked like a kid compared to the other firefighter. He was responding to a gas explosion. This photo not helpful for the denial.
However, my brother sent me the following photo of himself today. I don't know who took it or where it came from but the photo does much to reassure me.
See, after finishing driving the truck my brother stands and drinks coffee while other people run into burning buildings. My brother said to crop out the coffee cup but I'm holding on to that cup of coffee harder than he is.
I don't have the same sense of awe, as I prefer to have a healthy sense of denial about what my brother does. In my world, he doesn't run into burning buildings, he drives the truck at best. Big fires happen when my brother is off shift (which is statistically valid, considering he works seven out of 28 days).
Every now and then something comes along to shatter these illusions, both on a large and small scale.
I remember watching the live coverage of 9/11 and seeing the World Trade Centres collapse, knowing there were firefighters who were other people's brothers in there. Whenever there are accidents involving firefighters, I head straight to the phone and call my brother. I don't have much to say but just have to call.
A few months ago my mother sent me a photo of my brother that appeared in the Toronto Star. It was the back of him and another firefighter (their names are on the backs of the jackets like athletes so it was clear it was him). First my brother who is shorter than I am looked like a kid compared to the other firefighter. He was responding to a gas explosion. This photo not helpful for the denial.
However, my brother sent me the following photo of himself today. I don't know who took it or where it came from but the photo does much to reassure me.
See, after finishing driving the truck my brother stands and drinks coffee while other people run into burning buildings. My brother said to crop out the coffee cup but I'm holding on to that cup of coffee harder than he is.
Wednesday, August 1
what would russell do: "look twins"
In a small town, what do you do when someone else is wearing the same clothes?
The other day I passed a guy on the street wearing pretty much the same outfit as me. Our shirts were identical and we were both in jeans. I smiled, silently congratulating him on his style choices, walked on and didn’t look back. Thankfully this was a simple run-in on the street, but at times it’s been someone in the same meeting where there is no escape.
In any other town this may be a fashion faux pas, but I’ve come to accept it as a fact of life here in the ‘knife. There are very few places for men to shop in this town, one high-end (and I use the term loosely) shop, one practical store and two low-end chain stores. One of these stores is off-limit as a friend of mine once said to his niece, “Honey, we don’t buy shoes at Wal-Mart!”
Unfortunately the numbers are against us; someone in town is going to have bought the same clothes as you. Sooner or later they will be wearing the same outfit on the same day and your paths will cross.
I think my reaction above is the appropriate response, but what if the clothes look better on the other person? Is a simple acknowledgment enough, should you go home and change?
Also, if you are a co-worker of people in this situation, don’t go around clapping your hands together and saying “look twins” or making proclamations like “wow, you guys are dressed alike”. We know already and don’t need it pointed out.
The other day I passed a guy on the street wearing pretty much the same outfit as me. Our shirts were identical and we were both in jeans. I smiled, silently congratulating him on his style choices, walked on and didn’t look back. Thankfully this was a simple run-in on the street, but at times it’s been someone in the same meeting where there is no escape.
In any other town this may be a fashion faux pas, but I’ve come to accept it as a fact of life here in the ‘knife. There are very few places for men to shop in this town, one high-end (and I use the term loosely) shop, one practical store and two low-end chain stores. One of these stores is off-limit as a friend of mine once said to his niece, “Honey, we don’t buy shoes at Wal-Mart!”
Unfortunately the numbers are against us; someone in town is going to have bought the same clothes as you. Sooner or later they will be wearing the same outfit on the same day and your paths will cross.
I think my reaction above is the appropriate response, but what if the clothes look better on the other person? Is a simple acknowledgment enough, should you go home and change?
Also, if you are a co-worker of people in this situation, don’t go around clapping your hands together and saying “look twins” or making proclamations like “wow, you guys are dressed alike”. We know already and don’t need it pointed out.
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