Thank a firefighter, and pray for rain

Years ago, I used to live near a fire station.

I would drive by during the midst of my workday grind and see a bunch of guys – firefighters – playing basketball or shooting pool or washing cars.

With envy, or, actually, jealousy, I would say to anyone within earshot: “I would love to be a fireman. Ninety-five percent of your day is spent shooting hoops or improving your pool game, then boom, you have a burst of excitement and you’re called out to extinguish a fire. That’s the life.”