FlashoverImages said:
Thanks for the shoutout Willy D! I know "Big Mike" L. will be back in the state sometime in the next few days, so we should try to meet up at the Piano Bar for a bite and some catching up. Give me a call to let me know!
I will do that Sean. And like most dedicated fire buff/photographers, Sean, Pat and all the others can testify that this had to be one of the toughest and coldest winters we've had here in the Tri State area (NY, NJ, CT) in a very long time. Boston had recorded 96 inches of snow piled high on those narrow city streets. One morning (7 am) at the Ole' Homestead, about 120 miles northeast of NYC, it was MINUS 12 degrees. Yes, 12 degrees below zero and with the wind blowing. I took a picture of it from my computer as proof. I'm sure it felt like 40 below. Firefighters, police officers, EMS, and buffs alike were all out there doing what they do best.
But this also leads me to another group of individuals who were out there. They were out there 24 hours a day also. Those were the Con Ed and Utility workers throughout our cities and towns. They were out in that bitter cold weather too. One such individual who some of us know from this site goes by the name of "fdce54". For those who don't know, it's Frank D who is a supervisor for Con Eds Gas Division in Westchester County. He formerly worked the streets of the South Bronx.
As many of us know, Frank D was scheduled to retired on November 1st, 2014, just as the weather was starting to get cold. We were all very happy to hear about that and that he would join the ranks of many retired individuals on this site. We told him how he would be able to look out the window and watch those people go to work on those cold mornings. He could have his nice hot cup of hot chocolate with marsh mellows and go back to bed if he wanted to.
Suddenly, a turn for the worst. Just as Frank was about to retire, some co worker(s) in their hopes of not loosing their favorite boss, waved a little extra cash in front of him. They told him if he stayed longer he could have that. Well, it was like giving candy to a baby. Frank told them "Yes, I'll stay". They all loved it and rejoiced at their joyous occasion. Meantime, some of us here tried to convince him otherwise. But we had no candy to offer him. As a result, he changed his retirement date from November 1, 2014 to July 1, 2015.
Well, the winter weather came upon us and our good friend took one hell of a ba hine whoopen. He was out there in the middle of the worst of it. He himself has admitted that this was the worst winter he ever had. Why didn't he listen to his REAL Friends ? I can assure everyone here as I write this, that "he will NEVER do that again". I believe he has learned himself a very good lesson. For "fdce54" the worst is behind him now. He is counting every day to July 1st. When that retirement does finally come, we will again try to help him celebrate what he should have done months ago.
I think most of us here are all very happy that this winter is finally over. But nobody is more happier than the guy we know simply as "fdce54".
