Part 5- "Final Decisions"

The next day, two days before we were to leave for Arkansas, I get a call. It is my Team Leader again, he's almost frantic on the phone. After a speedy success of formalities, he asks, "So I need to know, pretty much right now, would you want to be a Fire Alternate?"

What this would mean, was that I would be issued a full set of fire-gear, (including $400 fire boots), and be sent for a two week intensive training trip in Colorado Springs being trained as a Class 2 Wild land Firefighter. I accepted, partly for the right reasons, partly for the wrong ones.

Right reasons I used:
-I wanted the training, the experience, and the chance to serve on a physically demanding position.
-I was helping fill a void that AmeriCorps had, and knew I would be able to do so with high spirits and great energy.

Wrong reasons I used:
-I would be able to delay my inevitable departure to Eudora (not avoiding the town, more avoiding living with the team again)
-I would get to keep the boots. (Yes, honestly, getting these awesome boots factored into my decision making process.)

Right/Wrong:
-I would be able to live with ColeFox, and just get closer with a new group of people. I love strangers, I love meeting new people, I love that. I don't do the "deep relationship" thing, especially with a team of individuals who hate camping. (They don't all truly hate it, but it was certainly very low on the list of team choices.)

But there it was.
I was going to Eudora.
Then I was going to Big Bend on another team.
Then I was not, back to just Eudora.
Then I was going to be a Fire Alternate. (If a full member gets injured, I take their place.)

So here I am. In Colorado Springs. Training starts tomorrow at 8AM. It's been a truly physically and emotionally draining week. Spiritually it was fine, so that's the silver lining.

I need a lot more time to reflect on everything that has happened. But even with all this, I am very glad I have this amazing opportunity to travel the country in this fashion, and if I get to use my fire training or not, is not up to me so I will refrain from having opinions on it. (But I do hope I do!)

Happy, Healthy, and Tired, I leave you to read everything I have added tonight.