 I'd like to thank once again, the people that help make this publication a reality. Thank you for your articles and your support. This month, I received articles and submissions from 6 McCartys and 6 non-McCartys. I would ask the rest of the family and friends in a very nice manner to "GET ON THE STICK"! I do understand that their is a lot going on in your lives during the summer months, but I am not asking for much. I will only keep the Metro going if I know it is being supported with material, and being read and enjoyed. If not... What's the point. August was eventful to say the least. We are re-doing our entire network at school, along with getting hundreds of new computers, so that has been pretty stressful. We are trying to get everything up and running as office workers and teachers return, plus the anticipated return of students in September, but unforeseen delays and problems seem to pop up on a daily basis. I am having issues daily with my MS, combined with the extreme heat earlier in the month, it has taken a lot out of me. I tend to make it about an hour in the morning before what seems like every nerve in my body starts to spazz, so that every annoyance, problem, or sound get amplified 100 times. My smile in the morning deteriorates to nasty growling for the majority of the day. Thank you Millard, Bob, and Karen for not punching me out yet. I was fortunately able to take some time off and get away for a couple of weeks. I had a very relaxing time with my family on Cape Ann in Massachusetts. Something about the salt air and lapping waves is very calming. It was so nice, I didn't want to leave. But alas, I had to get back to work, the Metro, and also to do my civic duty and report for jury duty for the first time in my life. What excitement that was!!! So, what did all of you do this past month??? I do enjoy putting together the Metro, and I am especially proud to bring you my final thought each and every month. So, till we meet again, I leave with you this story that came to me from Phoenix, Arizona. It is a sad but inspiring story of courage and love. I hope you enjoy it. In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up & fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible. The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dream to come true.
She took her son's hand and asked, "Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?" Mommy, "I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up." Mom smiled back and said, "Let's see if we can make your wish come true." Later that day she went to her local fire department in Phoenix , where she met Fireman Bob Kahn, who had a heart as big as Phoenix. She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her 6 year old son a ride around the block on a fire engine. Fireman Bob said, "Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary fireman for the whole day. We can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat - not a toy - one - with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots. They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast." | | . | 
| | Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the paramedic's van, and even the fire chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local news program. | | . | | Having his dream come true, with all the Love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy, that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible. One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept - that no one should die alone, began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition. The chief replied, "We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system, that there is not a fire? It's the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room? About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window - 16 fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room. With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they LOVED him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, "Chief, am I really a fireman now?" "Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand," the chief said. With those words, Billy smiled and said, "I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been singing.."
He closed his eyes one last time. |
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