safety

photo by me.

Today I’m going to Phoenix to watch my brother make his dream come true.

He has worked very hard to be accepted into the Phoenix Fire Department. He is currently going through the Firefighter’s Academy.

Tonight, they are having family night. They are treating us to dinner and then showing us the skills they have learned in this academy.

Part of it is to help us understand what they will be dealing with on the job. Part of it is so that we can be a part of this important part of their lives.

Yesterday I told him that I’m excited to see him in this. I’m so proud of him for chasing and catching his dream.

This is huge.

But what brought tears to my eyes is when he said, “It’s cool that all of you are coming. But I can’t wait to see Willow’s eyes light up when she sees her Uncle Todd as a fireman.”

Todd and I have had a hard life at times. We lived a different life than our other two siblings and it has seemed that so much has been a struggle for us. We’re stronger for it but sometimes it’s exhausting.

The approval of those we love and respect means so much to us because it helps us validate the struggles we’ve gone through.

I understand what he means when he says that about Willow.

It means he has achieved something intangible but more meaningful that almost anything else in the world.

In the eyes of a six year old, he becomes a hero.