WHEN THE SMELL of warm caramel coffee lingers in the air of your vehicle on the way to work, you don’t have to think about watching your back. While not every driver on the road is aware of their surroundings, and accidents do occur, there is always someone just a call away. Rest assured, you won’t have to sweep up all of the broken pieces by yourself. Someone is minutes away, coming to bandage up your wounds from the wreckage.
If — in the unlikely and unfortunate event — your dinner decides to burn itself a little more than usual and engulf in flames, you don’t have to throw on a helmet and fire suit to put it out yourself. I’d be willing to bet you don’t have a fire truck sitting in your backyard waiting on standby. Because you don’t have to. Someone has your back.
When you get a call about a dangerous situation at your child’s school, of course you worry, but you don’t have to. Because someone is already working on your behalf. Teams of trained professionals are on standby in case of any unfathomable event. These men and women willingly put their lives on the line to keep your life and the lives of those you love safe and out of harm’s way.
If –God forbid– your worst nightmare becomes your reality in the middle of the night and fear overtakes you, you pick up the phone and quickly press three buttons. Why? Because deep down, you know somebody has your back. The calm voice on the other end of the line assures you that you are not alone. Your rescuer is enroute. On your worst day, someone is ready and willing to give their best and fight for you. Someone has your back.
While their capes don’t always look like something attached to a unitard, and they may not drive a bat mobile to a bat cave, they still sacrifice in the same reckless way. Their uniform isn’t a cape flapping in the wind. It is a pair of scrubs, a badge over a bulletproof vest, a respirator mask, or even a headpiece at a 911 command center. Though they don’t have funny trademarked names, they are our real-life heroes.
They come across as superhuman, but at the end of the day, these heroes are just like you and me. They are your friends and coworkers, and they eat at the same restaurants you do. Their kids play on the same soccer teams, and they sit with you in the same stands. They have dreams and ambitions, hidden talents, and favorite hobbies. They have heartaches and hardships, making them every bit as human as you or me. And to these men and women whom we bump shoulders with daily, enough thanks could never be said. Cheers to those arriving first on the scene! We appreciate you. GN
