I have said in a few other posts about my desire to at least try to fit in where ever I may find myself living and for the most part I've been fairly successful in that endeavor. But I had no idea how much and to what extent I had been accepted until last night at work.
I do have to tell you how amazing this has been for me, as I had just rolled into town this time last year from Arizona. I had worked up in and around Beckley for the previous several months on the railroad but I only knew one person there, but this was different. I picked up and moved 2000 miles into a town where I had no job, no friends and really nothing more than a desire to get on with the railroad full-time.
But in the last twelve months or so I had made friends, been accepted in town... Good enough friends that they actively recruited me to join the Volunteer FD.
Not bad for one of those "Damn Yankees"...
So last night around 11PM my work cell phone rings. I answer and it's one of the guys from the fire department.
"Tom, can you come over to the station? We need your help.."
"Yeah, sure. Give me a minute or two."
I wondered what they wanted. I got there and two of my buddies were there and told me what they needed...
I had to laugh. I'm not even a full member yet, a 'probie' and they're already including me in on a practical joke on another new guy. I'm just as new as the other guy and I really was expecting a joke played on me... But to be included in their plans! Wow... So I spent the better part of an hour with them at the station in the midst of a really big thunderstorm setting up the gag, even throwing in some modifications of my own to better help it along.
The gag isn't planned for another week so I won't give it away but if it goes off the way it should, it's going to be a scream... I'll tell you about it when it goes off.
It's really nice to feel wanted for the first time in a long time.
I'm sporting a really big grin this morning...
Oh, and an update on Ethan:
http://www.register-herald.com/local/local_story_295231710.html
Lets all keep him in our prayers!
Copyright 2005 Thomas J Wolfenden
I do have to tell you how amazing this has been for me, as I had just rolled into town this time last year from Arizona. I had worked up in and around Beckley for the previous several months on the railroad but I only knew one person there, but this was different. I picked up and moved 2000 miles into a town where I had no job, no friends and really nothing more than a desire to get on with the railroad full-time.
But in the last twelve months or so I had made friends, been accepted in town... Good enough friends that they actively recruited me to join the Volunteer FD.
Not bad for one of those "Damn Yankees"...
So last night around 11PM my work cell phone rings. I answer and it's one of the guys from the fire department.
"Tom, can you come over to the station? We need your help.."
"Yeah, sure. Give me a minute or two."
I wondered what they wanted. I got there and two of my buddies were there and told me what they needed...
I had to laugh. I'm not even a full member yet, a 'probie' and they're already including me in on a practical joke on another new guy. I'm just as new as the other guy and I really was expecting a joke played on me... But to be included in their plans! Wow... So I spent the better part of an hour with them at the station in the midst of a really big thunderstorm setting up the gag, even throwing in some modifications of my own to better help it along.
The gag isn't planned for another week so I won't give it away but if it goes off the way it should, it's going to be a scream... I'll tell you about it when it goes off.
It's really nice to feel wanted for the first time in a long time.
I'm sporting a really big grin this morning...
Oh, and an update on Ethan:
http://www.register-herald.com/local/local_story_295231710.html
Lets all keep him in our prayers!
Copyright 2005 Thomas J Wolfenden
5 comments:
Oh, wow ... you're planning a gag on someone? That's great!
Now just don't do something silly like broadcasting that fact out to the general public - you know, like on the internet - prior to the gag actually occurring.
Kev... C'mon, give me a litle credit. I wouldn't have posted anything like this if I knew the indended mark had the internet. I found out Thursday at the meeting he doesn't and doesn't like computers in general, so I felt comfortable writing about it.
But I won't give away what the gag is until it goes off...
Cute baby pic...
Lisa, I'll give you a hint... That isn't really my baby pic... ;)
Thanks for the update Kat... I've been praying every day for him.
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