Lifestyles

In this profession, we touch down with all types of people from all walks of life. For example, a few shifts ago, we were dispatched to a "respiratory distress" call at about midnight. Since 95% of all "respiratory distress" calls are anything but that, it was no surprise for us to find a 20 something guy with his leg in a cast. It was obvious that this was not an emergency so we dug deeper into the story. He had been riding in a cab and had asked the cab driver to call. When questioned, he explained..."I just needed someplace to spend the night." He had recently undergone some fairly minor ankle surgery at the local hospital, but was on his way to Texas after spending a few months in Hawaii. Now, considering that he did not work, had no money, no possessions, and not even enough money for cab fair, I decided he was the modern rendition of the hobo. He was able to travel at will, had no money, yet it was obvious that not only was he doing pretty well, but in these modern times, he had the best of medical care and was able to get 5 firefighters to look after even the most basic need of a place to sleep for the night. In the end, the Red Lyon motel had a shuttle running towards the mission and offered to take him there for the night. A true "King of the Road!"