Connecting with Clayton

We're having a beautiful fall out here in BC, which I've managed to enjoy very little of - because I'm renovating my house. As I'm sure many of you know, house renovations are not for the faint of heart (or skinny of wallet, apparently). I'm done now, though, and it looks spectacular. So my wife is looking at other rooms… Guess I did too good a job.

I did take an afternoon off this week and spent some time with my Mom and Dad, and while we were visiting, I learned something really interesting. My Grandfather was apparently a volunteer fireman for many years in Madison, Wisconsin. Clayton passed away a decade ago, and he and I were very close when he was alive - despite the fact that we lived so far away.

Hearing that he had been involved in his local Fire Department immediately filled me with a strong sense of connection to him, one that I'm not sure I ever felt when he was alive. I was close to him, but we never really had a lot in common. He liked fishing and owned a mink ranch, and I like computers and mostly work in offices. Rolling hoses (and don't forget washing them) makes me think about him now - which is good, because rolling hoses gives you lots of time to think.

The shared experience of being a volunteer firefighter allowed me to see him in a different way. He was definitely the kind of man I'd be happy to have on my team, and I hope my grandkids will carry on the practice of volunteering, be it the Fire Department or some other place. I know now that it's something Clayton would have approved of.