Paramedic Sheriff’s Deputy

I never had any desire to be a police officer. I wanted to be a paramedic. Around here the best paramedic job is at the Sheriff’s Office. So I thought, ‘Okay, I guess I can figure out the cop thing, too.’ Having both a police and a paramedic license makes you feel pretty well prepared for most situations. You have this sort of peace of mind and confidence that you can keep your family safe in an emergency. Then something like this happens. You’re out here everyday being exposed to a deadly virus and suddenly you become the threat. YOU might be the thing that brings it home and puts them in harms way. The emotional strain from that has been the worst part of this.  

I question everything that I do now. Did I wash my hands enough? Should I shut myself in my bedroom when I get home? How much longer should I stay away from my family and friends? I own a local flower shop. Should I keep it closed or can I reopen? Is it safe for my employees to come back?  

I could drive myself crazy scrutinizing every little thing that I do. Eventually I realized that there are no “right” answers. No one knows how to navigate this. We’re all just struggling through this together, trying to find a new “normal”. I think the most important thing is to remember to be kind to each other. Fear and stress can make people say and do things that are just plain mean. We’re all just doing the best we can, right?  

Be nice. Give grace. Help where you can. Focus on your blessings, even the little ones. It might take a minute, but we’ll get through it. We’ll be okay.