1977

1977

Three days on, three days off

Three nights on, three nights off

Each shift twelve hours

Christmas included

The life of a firefighter

Sometimes Mom forgets to mark the calendar

And keeping track is tough when you’re seven years old

Is Dad home today?

The dog is patiently waiting on the porch

He’s not home

Is Dad home today?

The smell of steak and eggs wafts through the house

He’s home

Is Dad home today?

The bird feeders are empty and the yard is quiet

He’s not home

Then the sound of live football radiates from the den

He has survived another shift, and he’s home

Home is Dad.