We (Ellen, Bubba, the kids, and me) went to the Main Street Creamery tonight after dinner. Everyone got a cone of their favorite flavor (or at least their favorite today). Keke’s raspberry sherbet fell off of her cone right after she got outside to sit down. She got a replacement, but the original was still sitting on the bricks by the leg of the table, melting. She decided that it looked like a little brain that was lying on the ground with blood dripping off of it. Nice.
While we were sitting there, a fire truck went by and stopped in front of the seed company. It didn’t have its lights and sirens on, didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry, and after a while it rumbled on down the street. We didn’t think much of it, finished our ice creams and started to make our way back to Granny’s house.
As we approached her house, we could see the fire truck down at the end of the street. At first it seemed like nothing, but then we noticed a cadre of firefighters, in gear, walking around the truck as it was slowly backing up the street. As one of them passed by he told us that they were checking the pressure on the hydrants. There is a hydrant in the yard next to Granny’s house, so we stopped to watch them work. I had my camera with me, so I started taking pictures. As I was shooting, one of the firefighters came over and told me that in addition to checking pressures, they also had to check volumes.
The firefighters hooked a hose up from the hydrant to the truck, and then another from the truck that just pointed down the street. They attached a nozzle to the end of that one. When they were ready they turned on the hydrant and the first hose sprang to life. Then they allowed the water to continue on into the second hose. There were two firefighters holding the end with the nozzle and what amazed me was how fast the water filled the hose (instantaneously, it seemed), and how much pressure there must have been. The rapidly filling hose knocked both firefighters forward half a step. One of the other firefighters told me that the pressure in the hydrant was 125psi.
The nozzle was opened and water sprayed down the street in front of Granny’s house. The three older kids ran down to a tree right where the water was being sprayed so they could see better. One firefighter asked me if they should try to spray them, and I said to go for it. Unfortunately, the kids came back just at that point. So, instead, the firefighter asked me if I wanted to take a picture of the kids on the hose line!
Beenie went first and was absolutely thrilled with getting to hold the hose while it was turned on. He commented that he didn’t realize how heavy the hose actually is. Keke and Stewie didn’t want to get in there, but we finally coaxed them into at least having their pictures taken with the firefighters. When we were done, Beenie asked if they would show him how to turn the hose on. He jumped back in and the Lieutenant guided him as Beenie turned the firehose on and then off!
Beenie announced that he now wants to be a firefighter in addition to all the other things he wants to be when he grows up. Great-grandma will be happy to hear that. As the firefighters were packing up the truck, the Lieutenant brought over beenie babies for each of the kids (including Munchkin), so they all have a souvenir to go along with an amazing memory.
While we were sitting there, a fire truck went by and stopped in front of the seed company. It didn’t have its lights and sirens on, didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry, and after a while it rumbled on down the street. We didn’t think much of it, finished our ice creams and started to make our way back to Granny’s house.
As we approached her house, we could see the fire truck down at the end of the street. At first it seemed like nothing, but then we noticed a cadre of firefighters, in gear, walking around the truck as it was slowly backing up the street. As one of them passed by he told us that they were checking the pressure on the hydrants. There is a hydrant in the yard next to Granny’s house, so we stopped to watch them work. I had my camera with me, so I started taking pictures. As I was shooting, one of the firefighters came over and told me that in addition to checking pressures, they also had to check volumes.
The firefighters hooked a hose up from the hydrant to the truck, and then another from the truck that just pointed down the street. They attached a nozzle to the end of that one. When they were ready they turned on the hydrant and the first hose sprang to life. Then they allowed the water to continue on into the second hose. There were two firefighters holding the end with the nozzle and what amazed me was how fast the water filled the hose (instantaneously, it seemed), and how much pressure there must have been. The rapidly filling hose knocked both firefighters forward half a step. One of the other firefighters told me that the pressure in the hydrant was 125psi.
The nozzle was opened and water sprayed down the street in front of Granny’s house. The three older kids ran down to a tree right where the water was being sprayed so they could see better. One firefighter asked me if they should try to spray them, and I said to go for it. Unfortunately, the kids came back just at that point. So, instead, the firefighter asked me if I wanted to take a picture of the kids on the hose line!
Beenie went first and was absolutely thrilled with getting to hold the hose while it was turned on. He commented that he didn’t realize how heavy the hose actually is. Keke and Stewie didn’t want to get in there, but we finally coaxed them into at least having their pictures taken with the firefighters. When we were done, Beenie asked if they would show him how to turn the hose on. He jumped back in and the Lieutenant guided him as Beenie turned the firehose on and then off!
Beenie announced that he now wants to be a firefighter in addition to all the other things he wants to be when he grows up. Great-grandma will be happy to hear that. As the firefighters were packing up the truck, the Lieutenant brought over beenie babies for each of the kids (including Munchkin), so they all have a souvenir to go along with an amazing memory.
August 8, 2007 at 3:25 PM
that Bubba person sounds nice.
August 8, 2007 at 9:10 PM
One of a kind!!