Holiday

For many, including myself, today is what most consider a "holiday". And most in the workforce; banks, city offices, state bureaucratic organizations, most of these people have the day off. But for those of us who work in the wonderful field of public service, particularly law enforcement, it's just another Friday shift. Something that bothers me about working in this field is the fact that people don't remember that when they call 911 on a day like today, there's a human being who has given up their government-given right to a day off to keep the peace and perform their civil duties.

Here's how things like this play out: After having more than a few alcoholic beverages, Uncle Tommy starts bringing up how his brother John was always the "mommas boy." John, after having his fair share of alcoholic indulgence, gets mad and decides to start a yelling match with said Tommy. After this goes on for a few minutes, they make an attempt to settle this "Fair and Square" in an all-out, drag-out, "Battle of the Borrachos." *cue bullfighting music* After making an attempt at trying to hit each other, they both manage to miss their targets, and instead end up sprawled out on the ground. Tommy has cut his hand on the now broken bottle he forgot he was holding, and John has managed to roll his ankle, which now looks the size of Kirstie Alley's left thigh.

The nosy neighbors, hearing all the commotion, call 911 saying there is a fight in progress next door with injuries and they want the cops on scene before the Home Owners Association President gets wind of the situation.We get the call, send out the troops, and happily wait on their arrival. They get there and determine that it is nothing more than a drunken mess. They do what they can within their powers (God knows they would like to do much they couldn't) and clear the call.

It seems like calls like this tend to happen on said "holidays" more often than not. There are holidays that we hate working, then there are holidays where we would rather quit than have to work for fear of all the terrible things that could happen. Take the 4th of July for instance. People like to play dispatch's favorite game that day: Firework or Gunshot. "Where did you hear the shots come from, ma'am?" "I don't know, but they sounded like they were kind of far away! Or maybe they were close... I don't know!"  Aye caramba... Long story short, holiday or not, when duty calls, we are here to perform our job, and are expected to do so without any lip. Birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Passover, and beyond, somebody is there to answer the line 24/7 when help is needed.

I still swear there's a monkey somewhere in the Middle-Of-Nowhere, Texas standing in front of a fan with a bag of manure in one hand. Go ahead and throw it, my friend... Make my day..