Imagine meeting, for the first time, friends you have already known for a long time.
For months, I have collaborated with a very special east-coaster blogger. You may have heard of him. He is Rhett Fleitz, editor of Fire Critic. He was born out on the east coast just two years before I battled my first red devil, yet Rhett has been one of the first of many who extended their hand in helping me develop the fledgling FireDaily presence since it’s inception late last year.
This east-coaster and I have since partnered up to produce iTunes most rapidly growing podcast called Firefighter Netcast. If you haven’t heard it yet, the voluminous set of shows (3) are still available for download there and at our website.
The east-coaster and I had emailed, telephoned, skyped, and instant messaged hundreds of times. Even our kids have met online and become friends.
But not until this east-coaster strolled into town under the cover of darkness at 1am last Friday morning had I actually met him in person. But it was like I knew him for a long time. And I did.
The next morning, my east-coaster friend and I set out to network with similar friends, those with whom we had been in almost daily contact, yet whom we had never met. Rather than try to recount each individual meeting again, you can find a mostly-accurate description of each meeting over at my east-coaster friend’s post entitled “EMS Today in Retrospect, Thanks for the Memories and Meeting Everyone in Person”. He refers to me as Chris Farley (you know, the guy who lives in a van down by the river), and to himself as David Spade.
Hmm- Tommy Boy, eh? Who’s you favorite baseball team, Rhett?
The Yankees?
From moment one, the ball busting started and never stopped. I don’t think It never will
Here’s a video from Dave Statter that captures the evening
Great personalities I met for the first time in no particular order:
Mark Brady (@PGFDPIO) the PIO for PG County, Md., always in the news like it or not
Sebastian Wong (@SebWong). Seb and his Musings, EMS Chief (?) San Francisco Fire Department
Dennis Rubin, Fire Chief of DCFD who stopped in to see us on his way back home from Emmitsburg
Mike Ward, FossilMedic, Associate Professor at GWU and longtime EMS guru with an infectious laugh
Dave Statter, STATter911.com and DC TV reporter with an infectious sense of humor
Chris Kaiser, @CKEMTP, firefighter/paramedic and blogger of Life Under The Lights. with an infectious, well…
Justin Schorr, The Happy Medic, San Francisco firefighter/paramedic and the new Johnny Gage of Chronicles of EMS
Mark Glencorse, Medic999.com, UK paramedic and the new Roy DeSoto of Chronicles of EMS
Thaddeus (Ted) Setla, @setla, the constantly-energized producer of the next big thing in EMS online, Chronicles of EMS
Chris Eldridge (@thedridge), videographer with Setla and did wonders for Chronicles of EMS.
Dave Iannone (@cooldavej), Elsevier Public Safety and Go Forward Media. FireEMSBlogs.com, FirefighterNation.com
Chris Hebert (@chebert13). DCFD firefighter also with Elsevier Public Safety and Go Forward Media, FireEMSBlogs.com, FirefighterNation.com, Vikings fan, Capitols fan, half-marathoner, needs twitter followers
Chris Montera (@geekymedic) of the EMS Garage
Jamie Davis (@podmedic) of MedicCast and ProMed Network (an EMS podcasting hub)
Tom Bouthillet (@tbouthillet) of EMS12lead.com, lucky enough to be one of Mick Mayers’ company officers
Kevin @NJDiveMedic bought me more beer than I needed
Matt @Squirrl325 ditto. Matt helped us find a watering hole late Friday night. Lotsa pressure, not a problem for him. Thanks, Matt!
Carissa O’Brien @Carissao
@Ms_Paramedic
Kelly Grayson (@AmboDriver) of A Day in the Life of an Ambulance Driver and father of one of the cutest kids on the planet
The great blogger TOTWTYTR (Too Old to Work, Too Young to Retire) who wishes anonymity. Another great in the blogosphere.
@Medic61 of Sam the EMT and the podcast GenMedShow
Jared Scott, @MyRTLife, also from the GenMedShow, who taught Chris Kaiser not to leave his smartphone alone while in the restroom
@slayd someone so quiet, he made Kaiser nervous at Saturday lunch Thanks @slayd!
David Konig (@davidkonig) of DavidKonig.com. David and Greg Friese (@gfriese) of EMSEduCast , EPS411, and Everyday EMS Tips created PIO Social Media Training. Greg had a previous engagement, but we will cross paths as well!
April Saling @Epi_Junky Pink Warm and Dry
PLEASE, if I forgot you, let me know. I want to make this list complete. There is a fog I am trying to penetrate!
Taking nothing away from any of the others I met, I had the honor and privilege to have Mike Ward introduce me to the one and only FireGeezer, Bill Schumm (@FireGeezer). Bill made the 90-minute trek out to the convention center on Saturday to meet up with all of his fellow bloggers in attendance. Damn if I didn’t forget my FireGeezer mug for the signatures from these two greats. They promised another opportunity this summer in Chicago, and I eagerly await that special occasion. True to form, FireGeezer took no time in blogging about our meet-up.
Special and sincere thanks to everyone involved in making the meet-up possible. So much was done and planned and paid for to make it possible for us to all come together.
Dave Iannone and Chris Hebert and their staff at FireEMSblogs.com led the charge from start to finish, in addition to their duties at the busy JEMS booth during the EMS Today conference.
Mike Ward (FossilMedic over at FireGeezer.com) has long been associated with George Washington University’s Emergency Health Services Program, who generously sponsored the Meet-up at Uno’s in Baltimore along with JEMS and FireEMSBlogs.com, graciously ensuring we were satiated with food, drink and merriment Friday night.
Chris Kaiser was instrumental in the planning stages as well. You all kicked ass in making this such a memorable event.
So much more happened on the trip that was funny, funnier, downright damn funny, and friggin’ hilarious. Much cannot and should not be shared, if for no other reason than to guarantee future similar escapades in the future.
That’s what happens when friends get together- even those who have known each other for a long while, yet have only met for the first time.
Even an east-coaster.







Then, the accident happened. Another quarter of an inch shift in location, my neurologist explained, and my skull fracture would almost certainly have resulted in me becoming a quadriplegic. So I fully appreciate the “luck” that befell me on that warm spring day in May. But, even with help from above, I must tell you how everything changed in the blink of an eye.









“This is just wrong,” Bruce said ripping off the lid and spooning a huge chunk into his mouth. “Wha-eva havven to buvverhood?” he mouthed, chowing down on the mint chocolate chip.



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