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Epic Moments

I often participate in photo challenges, the site I usually play on is “Gurushots” (www.gurushots.com).  The site contains photo contests that caters to amateurs and professionals.  The contests include all sorts of categories and there are plenty going on at all times. 

One of the challenges I entered was called “Epic Moments” and this got me to thinking…what are considered “Epic Moments”?  Here are 3 of the images I sent in.

  • A moment with the cousins
  • A moment watching a CP Locomotive at Craigellachie, the last spike
  • A quiet moment with a morning cup of coffee at Gwillim Lake

After reviewing the pictures in the challenge it appears epic moments are those times you look back on.  Were these images my most epic moments?  Not by a long shot.  They were memorial but not particularly epic.  This challenge helped me reflect on my epic moments,  the moment I tried to say “I do” to my wife and I said it with a cross between the traditional “I do” and a laugh of happiness…and it sounded like no!!  Another epic moment was the first time I held my daughter and hearing her squeak for the first time. 

I have had other epic moments and great moments, and will continue to have epic moments.  I now know that the actual epic moments happen at anywhere and anytime, and as such I now look to savor the moment, then reflect on how epic it is.

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9/11

So here I am with an Emergency Medical Responder class on this particular day,  September 11, 2018. 

It has been 17 years since the fateful day that the world changed.  2 aircraft graphically struck and collapsed the twin towers, another struck the Pentagon and the passengers on a 4th aircraft did the ultimate sacrifice and brought the aircraft down before it could cause major damage.    In the aftermath borders were tightened, trust seemed to vanish and terrorism became a household word.

How to convey to the next generation of practitioners entering into the world of Emergency Medical Services the meaning of that day to all emergency services.  I remember the skies were empty of all but military and essential aircraft, even that night when I was called for a medevac and the pilots telling us that if we stray from our direct flight path we would be seen as a threat!!

In these 17 years  good emergency plans and the right people in the right place has never been more important.  In-spite of the changes in the world even on that day there were hero’s, both on ground zero, across the country and around the world.  Cities like Gander NFLD made room in their homes to take care of stranded travelers until the skies were opened and they could return home.

The new generation is training, learning the skills to treat those who have been affected by trauma or medical conditions.  Their world includes the now common word terrorism…let us hope that in their lifetime we can find peace.

“If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate.” —Sandy Dahl, wife of Flight 93 pilot Jason Dahl