Just when you thought we couldn’t cram more excitement into our lives…
The FI was offered a position as a firefighter in the town where we grew up!
This might seem a little random for most of you, so I’ll explain. About 3 years ago, shortly after he graduated from college, the FI realized he was missing something. Most of his friends commissioned as officers into various military branches and shipped off to start their training, protecting the United States and doing their civic duties. Though he thought about the decision a long, long time, I think there was a part of him that wishes he did the same. He still felt that he had a lot to give back.
After more discussion, he decided to take the civil service test to become a firefighter here in Massachusetts. After taking the written test and the physical test, he (we) started the waiting game. If you’re not familiar with the process, it breaks down like this: the state analyzes everyone’s test scores and ranks candidates on lists by town. Preference (and thus ranking) on that list is given to females, minorities, veterans, family members of firefighters (especially those injured in the line of duty), and residents of the town.
I’ll just take a quick minute to point out that the FI is a white guy who has no active military service and moved away from his hometown (but still counted as a resident since we moved less than 3 months before the tests). No family on the force, nothing outstanding. To the state, at least.
We thought he might have had a position back in January, when he was ranked 5th or so on the list, but everyone above him was a vet, and the town hired according to the list. Fair enough, but then we got nervous. We also found out that he missed the cutoff for registering for the next test (the lists expire every so often), so once this list expired, that was it.We had gotten our hopes up the last time around, so we decided that we’d wait and hope and pray (lots of praying by lots of people) that he’d get another postcard.
And he did. And this time he was hired.
I can’t even begin to tell you all how proud of him I am and how much he deserves this. I know he’ll be the best firefighter this town has. We’re working together to keep his business running, which has been a really interesting experience (in a good way!).
The only downside (and I’m really not even convinced it’s a downside) is that he might be attending the academy, a 12-week program, starting in October. Of course. He told the chief about the wedding, so he’ll be able to have that day off, but we’ll have to postpone the honeymoon if he’s chosen to go to the October class. More time to plan and save, if you ask me! I’m just so happy he’s finally gotten the job that I don’t care when we go on the honeymoon!
And now for a happy, smiling picture of us at MOH K and M’s wedding:
This is GREAT! I am so happy for you guys. I love how you have been following your heart and everything just seems to fall into place.
Let’s make sure to do some sexy fire truck photos when I’m back in the Boston area in September! mwah.
Thanks, Rachel! We have been so fortunate recently– it’s hard to believe!
You know I’m down for fire truck photos! Let’s see if the department is… haha
WOW This is sooo exciting!!! My FI took the police officer exam back in May and he is playing the waiting game…we’ve heard through the grapevine though that the results should be coming out soon so we are keeping our fingers crossed.
Good luck!! The worst part was the waiting. My advice: don’t expect anything. There were a few times we thought for sure things were going to come through and they didn’t. Once we decided to not really think about it anymore, he got the job! It made him being hired so much more enjoyable, since it was out of the blue.
I hope he hears his (high) rank soon! I’m really pulling for you guys!