Me and 911
For the last couple of months I have acquired the habit of listening to a police/fire/rescue scanner. I purchased the rights to listen in on all the excitement for only $1.99 per “There is an App for that” on my phone. I listen to all of the 10-4s, the signal 89s, and the crime that unfolds in the wee hours of the night when I can not seem to sleep. Now I realize there is an argument in which some would state the content of said noise being produced would hamper my slumber but who really cares anyway and it certainly give me something to write about.
There are hundreds of channels representing all 50 of our US states and even some countries that I might dream of visiting such as Ireland, Australia and Sweden. There is so much to listen to yet what do I stick with? My own backyard, the streets I travel and the areas that I shop, the places and businesses that I recognize. I listen and I wonder and yes, at times I worry that crime is very close or that the house 3 streets over have flames showing and I feel heartsick for the mother of the 18 yr old male who shows no signs of life after futile attempts to revive him from his sleep just this very morning.
I lie in the darkness and wonder about the unknown medical malady that he must have lived with that caused his untimely death. I think about the displaced family whose belongings are now charred rubble. I wonder how people think that they can drive without a license and valid insurance and not get caught eventually. I hear the frustration in the responding officer’s voice when called to intervene on a third time domestic violence call. I listen as the ambulance siren fades off into the distance as they run to the next situation. I lie in the quiet and contemplate what is wrong with me. Suddenly the scanner squawks out the next call and my mind is redirected once again to imagine guns drawn and sirens blaring.
Perhaps if I just ordered a fireboy or two for how to put out a fire lesson 101 that might help me get to sleep...911 what is your emergency? I wonder if my emergency is that I might be considered just a lazy, lie in the bed ambulance chaser or a girl with a siren fetish.
There are hundreds of channels representing all 50 of our US states and even some countries that I might dream of visiting such as Ireland, Australia and Sweden. There is so much to listen to yet what do I stick with? My own backyard, the streets I travel and the areas that I shop, the places and businesses that I recognize. I listen and I wonder and yes, at times I worry that crime is very close or that the house 3 streets over have flames showing and I feel heartsick for the mother of the 18 yr old male who shows no signs of life after futile attempts to revive him from his sleep just this very morning.
I lie in the darkness and wonder about the unknown medical malady that he must have lived with that caused his untimely death. I think about the displaced family whose belongings are now charred rubble. I wonder how people think that they can drive without a license and valid insurance and not get caught eventually. I hear the frustration in the responding officer’s voice when called to intervene on a third time domestic violence call. I listen as the ambulance siren fades off into the distance as they run to the next situation. I lie in the quiet and contemplate what is wrong with me. Suddenly the scanner squawks out the next call and my mind is redirected once again to imagine guns drawn and sirens blaring.
Perhaps if I just ordered a fireboy or two for how to put out a fire lesson 101 that might help me get to sleep...911 what is your emergency? I wonder if my emergency is that I might be considered just a lazy, lie in the bed ambulance chaser or a girl with a siren fetish.