It's Not Easy Being Us

摘要

Dear Sunshine, I was thrilled to get your letter because I thought "ate up" firefighters were a dying breed; apparently, they are not. I was also thrilled because I saw so much of me, especially when I was young, in your letter. I was born in Chicago at the old Cook County Hospital. Although I was immediately sent to New York for my awaiting adopting parents, my connection to Chicago has always been strong. Why? Well, first I think and have always thought that the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) is one of the sharpest departments out there. From the very colorful and wildly innovative Commissioner "Snorkel Bob" Quinn days to today, from Commissioner Bobby Hoff to Commissioner Jose Santiago, from the infamous and highly emotional Brotherhood of the Barrell under President "Moon" Muscare to today's labor leadership of Local 2 under Brother Tom Ryan, the CFD firefighters and paramedics do some amazing work. But the real reason, I think, is the history of Chicago and fires. Actually, the fire.