Today we had an incredible visit in Boulder Colorado. Every stop has been special in it's own unique way, but I have to say that this stop was the most emotional for me thus far.
Greg and Terri were both raised in Boulder. They have three grown children and are now enjoying the phase of life known as grandparenting. From what I understand...raising children is the price you pay to get grandchildren. By observing their interaction with my kids, I can only imagine how much their grandchildren adore them! The neighborhood Greg and Terri live in had a strikingly similar resemblance to Prescott. Apparently it felt like home to the kids also because they were as
rambunctious as they've ever been on a visit. Sweetly, Greg said, "They're just being kids. It's the same as our puppy acting like a puppy. That's what they're supposed to do."
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| Choice, Juliann, Tate, Greg, and Terri |
Each of the children had a chance to talk with Greg and Terri about the card they decorated for them. Greg and Terri were so loving and gave each child their complete and undivided attention.
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| Ryder, Greg, and Terri |
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| Shiloh, Greg, and Terri |
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| Shiloh, Tate, Greg, and Terri |
Unfortunately, the kids were not as undistracted. It was Greg and Terri's puppy, Addy, who ultimately won over their hearts. Had I allowed them to, they would've stayed there for days throwing a tennis ball for Addy to play fetch. Thanks to this past time, the four kids and Addy will all be enjoying a good night's sleep tonight.
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| Ryder, Tate, Addy (dog), and Shiloh |
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| Ryder, Shiloh, Addy (dog), and Tate |
It wasn't the fact that my kids loved a canine more than their own mother that made me emotional. There are people that come into our lives at various times for certain reasons. This visit was a testament to that principle. Greg has been a firefighter for 35 years. His career has been one of selfless service to the community, honorable commitment to protecting the lives of others, and brilliance in pioneering certain developments pertaining to hotshot crews around the country.
Of course, all of those things lead to the fact that Terri is a phenomenally strong and supportive wife. Her role in the family is something that I could relate to extremely well, however, my 3 years in that supportive role is a drop in the bucket to the 35 years she has behind her. The first thing that Terri said to me when I was privileged to meet her today was, "I am the wife and the mother of wildland firefighters". I was immediately moved by her comment and my heart began swelling in my chest. She is a hero! She has spent the nights of worry just as I did as a wife, and as my mother-in-law did as a mother. She is no stranger to raising her children seemingly alone while her husband courageously defends the community against the forces of nature. Not only that, when they were first married, the hotshots went on assignments for three weeks straight (plus travel days on top of that). Still only having two days off in between. I can't imagine the strain that placed on families.
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| Terri and Juliann |
Their son Weston was a hotshot in Greybull Wyoming and now works with Nature Conservancy. He followed in his father's footsteps; Greg was a hotshot on the same crew in Greybull, Wyoming for several years before he and Terri moved back to Colorado. He now works for the Boulder Fire Department in the Wildland Division. Their crew is referred to as the "Hot Irons". This peaked my interest as it is often pointed out that the Granite Mountain Hotshot Crew was the only crew under the direction of a City Fire Department. Greg filled me in on some fascinating details pertaining to his crew and GMIHC.
When Chief Willis and Eric Marsh were working to form the Wildland Division within the Prescott Fire Department, Greg was involved in assisting Eric. They spoke several times on the phone as Eric asked many questions of how they operate the Wildland Division within the Boulder Fire Department. Greg recalls not only speaking several times to Eric on the phone but also working alongside him on fires occasionally.
Greg humbly shared with me that almost everyone on his crew knew someone on the Granite Mountain Hotshots who lost their life fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire. He shared with me that it was a very difficult event for his crew to work through, as well as all hotshot crews. Greg smiled as he told me that everyone in the fire community knew who the Granite Mountain Hotshots were. That their reputation spread far and wide within the brotherhood and they were loved and respected.
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| Greg, Shiloh, Addy (dog), Ryder, Choice, Juliann, Tate, and Terri |
Greg and Terri were not strangers to the story of Andrew's Be Better Band. When we gave them their own bands and t-shirts, they told us of how they came to know of our family. Greg attended a firefighter training in Louisiana where he was one of the instructors discussing the aftermath and necessary courses of action after tragedy befalls first responders. At that same conference, he listened to the presentation made by the Fire Chief from Mayor, Arizona regarding the Yarnell Hill Fire. As part of that presentation, he showed a video that the kids and I made to remember Andrew on the year anniversary of his death. Greg expressed that he was so moved by the video and the resemblance between Andrew and his son Weston, that he couldn't make it through the whole video without putting his head in his lap. Terri never saw the video, so I have shared the link below for anyone interested in watching it...
https://youtu.be/L3L9Ew-GmaQ
A few resemblances between Greg and Andrew brought a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. Greg was wearing a belt almost identical to the one that Andrew wore. And of course, the mustache. Just as Andrew's mustache allowed for the nickname STACHE-CRAFT, Greg's mustache is referred to by his family (named by their daughter when she was a small child) as his MUSH-MASH.
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| Greg |
I shared a wonderful and heartfelt conversation with Greg regarding the work of a wildland firefighter and his take on the events that took place in Yarnell. He said that when people ask him "How could that happen", he replies with, "If you don't know, you haven't been in this business long enough". Greg shared many personal experiences with me that he's had on the fire line where he was certain he was watched over by a guardian angel. Many close calls have come his way and he was blessed to survive because in his words..."it just wasn't my time". I found great peace and solace in his belief that it was Andrew and the other 18 Granite Mountain Hotshots time. He went on to say that he believes this would have been the way that the guys would've chosen to go because they were there together with their close friends and brothers, in an environment that was a sanctuary to them, one they understood and respected, and it was very quick. Greg added that he would be okay dying in that fashion other than the grief it would bring his family. It was comforting to hear a fellow firefighter say that it is something they understand in their soul, that this is a very real possibility that firefighters accept in selecting this career.
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| Addy (dog), Greg, Shiloh, Ryder, Choice, Juliann, Tate, and Terri |
Greg was an outstanding example of a powerful and gentle man. He had the character and integrity that I came to love and admire about the Granite Mountain Hotshots. He was a prime example of what the GMIHC referred to as "a lifer"...someone who loved it too much to ever leave it. Andrew was one of several among the crew who was given that title.
Terri and Greg wanted us to know that there were several members of the Boulder Fire Department who made donations to this cause and they didn't want to leave them out. They also left us with a beautiful souvenir to take home with us...two patches from their Fire Department here in Boulder. As we were leaving, Terri brought me to tears when she said..."If she doesn't mind an old man with a walker, I know Greg would be honored to walk Shiloh down the isle if she needed a firefighter fill-in father". What a strength and bond that exists within this loving community of comrades. I felt like we had visited family today...and now I KNOW we did.
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| Shiloh, Addy (dog), Greg, Ryder, Choice, and Tate |
We spent a few minutes enjoying the beauty of downtown Boulder before heading off to our next destination.
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| Tate, Choice, Shiloh, and Ryder |
The tulips were absolutely breathtaking, however, the kids were a little spooked by the statues.
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| Ryder, Tate, Shiloh, and Choice |
Naturally, the girls were fascinated by the unique jewelry collection offered in Boulder. This picture is the only thing we brought with us though...no worries.
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| Juliann and Shiloh |
Morghen took the older two kids to enjoy Ben & Jerry's while I stayed with the sleeping younger boys. They had a very "sweet" time!
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| Morghen, Shiloh, and Ryder |
Next stop...Nebraska.
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