My initial thoughts

In 1976, My brother Brian and I were working for Gene & Mary Halliwell at a Mobil Gas Station they owned on Main Street, in Westport, CT.

Westport is one of those New England towns which were home to the likes of Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Jack Klugman, Linda Blair, and perhaps most infamous, Marylin Chambers. 30,000 folks lived among movie stars and porno stars. Just the way it was and there wasn't an extra eyelash batted.

I met a wonderful man named David Warburg who used to come into "our" station for his daily fill of gasoline in a big 'ol station wagon with NY Ambulance plates, which always gave me pause, because this behemoth was no more an ambulance than a Harley. David however was fascinating. Fact is, he still is. Truth be told, I was out of high school, headed in no particular direction when I met David. His stories of life and death, the training he had and others in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) had drew me in like the proverbial moth to a flame.

"Tell you what" he said,  "I'll sponsor you through an EMT class being held at Norwalk Community College. You pass and get certified, and you can come to work for me" My thoughts vasilated between caregiver, life saver and failure.

Needless to say, I did well. 30 years later, after David's kindest gesture,  and after many years of seeing the worst life could possible dish up  and yet seeing the most beautiful things God and life had to offer, I regret nothing.

In the following days, weeks & months, I will share my experiences, the folks i met, loved and lost along the way and attempt to offer an insight into what life is really like in an ambulance, after those two large tomb-like doors close.