FB friends

 I thought of doing these posts while sitting in my little boat fishing. I have met some amazing people in my life, and I have a few of them as friends on FB. Others don't have FB and I will add some of them in this series. Some of the people in this series are no longer with us but they should also be remembered. Also,  I think this is going to be a lot of posts. Tell me what you think in the comments, should I do them all or narrow the list down a little?



I am going to start with a guy that I was in the Army with, his name is Rodney "Hot Rod" Keyes. Rodney was in my first Army unit and he was a hard-working dude.  He was an E-5 working in the position of a higher rank and he got his butt ran off. He tried to make everyone happy but it was not an easy task. Rodney had bright red hair, he was a super nice guy unless you failed at something which he needed you to do. He was a tall scrawny dude who was a funny guy and would do anything he could for you. Rodney was involved in an accident that led to his early death. Rest in peace, my brother. 


Next, we'll start with the A's. Aaron Gonzalez was not only my neighbor across the street but he was also my brother in the public safety sector. When we first moved in Aaron helped us out with things that we needed to know in the area. Our kids were around the same ages, so they played together from time as well. When Aaron and Lori moved out to the boonies, Aaron let my son Kai and I come and hunt on his property. We never saw anything out there, but the fact that he allowed us to hunt there tells you what kind of guy he is. 


Abby Hendry(Mrs. Marble) is an absolute hoot. I will never forget the first time that I met Abby. I was doing fire training with Ronnie(Mr. Marble) and she joined us for lunch. We all met at a Mexican joint in station 12's area. Ronnie and Abby picked on each other the whole time, we laughed the whole time it seemed like. I could tell that they really loved each other, they loved their kids and just loved life. Here recently I saw Abby on a critical call and it was so good to see her there. She will say that she feels like she didn't do anything, but she gave us all the information that we needed about the person that we were there for and that made all the difference in the world. Abby is a sweetheart and I just smile whenever I see her. 


Next, is Valerie "Gravy" Cloud. Val was my partner at Medstar years ago and we had some super fun times together. Val started calling me "Biscuit" after the bodyguard for New Kids on the Block. Val said that I was her bodyguard when we were on calls, so we were "Biscuit and Gravy". Being partners you learn about each other's families, I have watched her kids grow up to be some awesome young ladies and gentlemen. I have recently gotten to work with Val again here in the county and it is just like old times. We laugh a bunch, pick on each other a bunch, and take care of sick and hurt people. Val still gets cold super easy(cuz she's scrawny) but now just wears cold weather stuff instead of yelling at me to roll up the window the whole shift. Val is one of a kind and she is probably my favorite partner that I ever had. One story that I think of all the time. Val and I were sent to a house for a person who was having a seizure. We got on the scene and the patient was a little old lady who told us that she had had 4 seizures that day. I didn't really believe her, normally(but not always) people who have seizures are talking like a normal person shortly after having a seizure. We loaded her up and I told Val to go ahead and drive to the hospital and I would get everything done while in route. A few minutes later the patient starts doing the funky chicken on the stretcher. I yell for Val to stop and come help me. So I am trying to start an IV on an octopus(what I call people who have arms flailing about) and Val is trying to get my meds set up in a little holder that she has never seen nor used before. It was all I could do to do what I needed to do but I was talking Val through what she needed to do like it was an easy walk in the park. We got everything done and got the patient to the hospital with no further problems. I will never forget what Val said to me after that call, "Thank you for not yelling at me when you were telling me what to do". I have never forgotten that. I knew that being ugly at that time would have made matters worse, so why do it. Love ya Gravy!


Now for my friend Malcom Foy. If you have ever met Malcom you will never forget his smile. Malcom is an amazing man, he is kind to everyone that he meets, he is fair and he will take care of you in any way that he can. Malcom is a deputy and I have been on many different calls with him and he is always the same with each of them. He is cool, calm, and collected. Malcom has a soft voice that is calming and he has a laugh that you can't help but laugh with. A while back he was promoted to detective so I don't see him as much as I used to, but when I do I see that smile and get a stiff handshake from him. We need more Malcom's in this world. 


I will end with my friend Manny Morilla. I met Manny when I was going through fire school at PWFD. Manny has a smile that is 2 feet wide, he has a gentle nature and he will do whatever you need him to do. I have followed his career through the fire service and I have run into him on several calls over the years. It is so cool to see how he has matured in the fire service and in his personal life, he is now married and has a beautiful house. Strong work Manny

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