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| Links to 23/31 & the 31 Vibrant Things Launch Post |
So today, I chose a fire hydrant because it's a profoundly vibrant thing but unless there's one in your front yard, I bet you (like me) may struggle to pinpoint where exactly they are in your neighbourhood. Related to this topic, how many firefighters do you know? I know one, but he's not inclined to discuss his work, or even broach the subject other than this: he deeply values and trusts the people on his team. This makes me curious.
Let's contemplate fire hydrants. What do we actually know about them?
Quick research reveals they are typically colour-coded according to water capacity, even type of water (potable or not). They are flow-tested at least twice yearly and are replaced approximately every 50 years. Apparently, in Canada, they are pressurized to keep the water below the freezing line.
All this adds up to key community infrastructure produced and maintained thanks to our taxes, an investment in security, a safety net, an insurance policy we hope we will never need. This implies that fire hydrants are abstractly future-orientated, so is that why we don't pay attention to something so valuable, so key to our well-being? And what else do we take for granted?
Until we need those fire hydrants.
Of late, I've grown weary of people who seek more and more and more, heedless or blind or willfully ignorant to all they already have. I'm not referring to those seeking solutions for important social issues we should all rally to improve: education, health care, poverty, injustice, inequality, and so on, nor am I suggesting that the status quo remain uncontested. I'm speaking of those who will never be satisfied....
Perish the thought their houses were burning. But no matter—my fire hydrant will always be my neighbour's fire hydrant, even if my neighbour didn't notice there are fire hydrants all over this safe and thriving and cherished country, even if my neighbour feels somehow cheated and maltreated by our community. And the firefighters? They won't think twice about rushing into their homes to save them no matter the ideology that makes them perceive themselves as hard done by... and I hope you know, dear friends, I am not just talking about fire hydrants.
Our hydrants are undergound and they are marked by a plate with a H or FH on it.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea but that makes sense.
DeleteUnderground hydrants? WOW! I’ve never heard of that.
ReplyDeleteI know where the closest hydrants are to my house. I know 1 firefighter, my dear departed friend’s husband. At her funeral, there were a TON of firefighters, he is the battalion chief.
My husband and I were just talking about the fire boats in San Francisco. They were going to be decommissioned, it was determined that they were no longer needed. Then when the earthquake hit in 1989, they helped save a lot of property in the Marina district, which had a pretty big fire. I *think* SF still has fire boats now, but will have to go check.
Fire boats? Also a new concept to me. These example reinforce the idea of what we take for granted.
DeleteWe take so much for granted. We need to stop doing that.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but those who willfully take things for granted...so frustrating.
DeleteThere is one directly across the street but ours are colour-coded because they all have the same town access.
ReplyDeleteYou do remind me of the city opening the hydrants on a very hot day when I was a young boy in Montreal. The memory is very hazy because I am pretty sure that I was no older than 5 or 6, and here I am almost 78.
Fun memory.
DeleteThis is a good reminder not to take things for granted.
ReplyDeleteWe all need this reminder sometimes.
Delete...having enough should be enough.
ReplyDeleteWell said. You have a way with summarizing succinctly. I wish I had that skill, ha.
DeleteAs in Ireland, our hydrants in UK are underground.
ReplyDeleteWe had a house fire many years ago. We were out and my neighbours came over to complain about the 'bonfire' and discovered the fire was indoors!
On two other occasions, cars caught fire, so I have good reason to be grateful for our fire service.
Oh yikes. Your experiences speak well to gratitude and to these services.
DeleteOur friend lost his house in the Jasper fire. It still hasn't been rebuilt, but they're hoping it will be done by this time next year.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know fire hydrants were colour coded. Very cool. I don't know where my nearest hydrant is though, although in my last house, it was on our property. Very convenient.
There is so much that we take for granted that would not be done unless we all work together with out taxes. I don't have a problem paying my taxes, I think we get a lot for our money (I know I'm in the minority).
I live in Sherwood Park, a community filled with large trucks, trailers, boats, ATVs (not always for work), and other toys. People have so much stuff and are never satisfied. More stuff is not what's is needed.
I have no idea where I was going with this but I do know I'm going to look for our hydrant when I take Jack to school:)
Your comment speaks to perspective-taking and gratitude...I feel the same way.
DeleteI had never really thought much about fire hydrants until this post! I read your link about the Alberta separatist movement. I am sure that the people who favor this are in the vast minority.
ReplyDeleteYes, a minority, but they're like a cult. Sigh.
DeleteI totally get the cult aspect as I witness it everyday when I see all things MAGA. Sigh is right.
DeleteHmm. I have no idea where our nearest fire hydrant is. And I nearly burned down my yard Saturday night, so this is probably good info to have.
ReplyDelete