Hi, my name is Chris, and I’m nostalgic. Starting as a volunteer firefighter in the village of Lambeth and then moving into a lifelong career in emergency medical services serving London was a magnetic journey. Whether it's EMS, policing or firefighting, I continue to enjoy hanging around responders, hearing and exchanging stories with a common theme. Enthusiasm for the topic has not faded with time.
Retiring nearly four years ago, maintaining that connection with the first response community is not difficult if you are interested. Groups of responders from all services and the emergency room folks meet regularly and enjoy a meal and the resulting exchanges, a pastime that I participate in and enjoy. A second interest that developed over the last five years has been writing and publishing a book on my career in EMS. Some of you have heard enough about the project, so I won’t delve into the gory details here.
At a recent gathering of retirees from the Windsor area, I heard about an upcoming swap meet for responders to collect and exchange badges, pins and other memorabilia related to our emergency professions. Having attended one previous swap meet, I was surprised by the volume of followers of the trappings that first responders take in over their careers and the community of vendors that cater to the hobby. For anyone interested in a short drive, I have attached a poster outlining the details and directions.
To that end, I have decided to join the group this Saturday and take along some author’s copies of RUNNING REDS. Bypassing the shipping, there is an incentive to pick up a copy when you visit the meet. For anyone interested, I will gladly sign and personalize your copy. Bring it along if you already own a copy and want it signed.
A bonus Saturday will be another book available at the table. A longstanding friend and paramedic, Chris “Bones” Skelton, published his collection of cartoons from his career in EMS. Chris passed a couple of years ago, but the remaining copies of his book are being used to raise funds for the London hospice that cared for him. Chris’s cartoons depict some timeless topics facing responders that continue to be relevant to the profession. He graciously agreed to me sharing some of his images in RUNNING REDS.
Hope to see you there this Saturday from 9-2 in Tecumseh.
