Let's Get You Up to Speed (part 4).....

It was the summer of 2004, but instead of preparing for new job involving a truck and hoses, I was heading to Missouri. With Kolsten being 7 months or so, Katrina and I both agreed that we needed to be closer to our family. We were the only ones living so far away. We chose O'Fallon, MO, 30 Minutes to the west of Downtown St. Louis. It was a wise choice.

I got a job at Business Audio Plus as a creative consultant, Katrina as a computer teacher in Wentzville. We were both excited to get started. Katrina told me to contact St. Louis City's Fire protection district. I did this before we left. By the time we got set up in O'Fallon, I had received a response. They were currently NOT hiring, but kept my application on file. So again, my dreams firefighting career took a backseat.

It would be the Spring of 2005 before I thought of it again. Kolsten was at a in-home day care. His teacher had policeman for a husband. I had a conversation with him about his career and firefighting. He actually had a firefighter friend. I supplied a list of questions, he gave me answers. Here is what I found out:

To become a career firefighter in the St. Louis area you:

1. Have to be in the best shape of your life
2. Be a paramedic
3. Have your Firefighter 1 and 2
4. Have serious connections
5. Gain experience by volunteering
6. Have plenty of time to wait.....

So while a career firefighter may be years away, I thought I would accomplish the things that I could do...

And that's what lead me to EMT school....