Love a Man in Uniform (Secrets About Firefighters)

I'm still wearing the pedometer and tonight am at 4729 steps. Yes, I walked my dog. I tell you, I look at this thing attached to my waist at around 2 pm and I'll only have 501 steps, so I take the dog for a walk. I come home, fall on the sofa, grab a book and eat cookies, but at least the dog is getting in shape.

Oh, and I can do these things, like take the dog for a walk then fall on the couch because my husband is a firefighter and always home. I'm going to tell you a secret about firefighters though-- there are two kinds, the good fatherly, hero types, and the a-holes. I hate to say, but it's true. Firefighters become firefighters for two reasons-- the first is that they are really truly kind and caring guys and want to help out and save the world, or two, they want to sleep with a lot of women. I'm not joking. Some men become firefighters because they think women will think they are hot (and guess what, women do.)

My husband has told me quite a few times when women who would not normally smile or wave to him in his daily life do so when he's at work. His friend said, "Hey R., that woman just waved at you." My husband's response, "It's the uniform. Without it, I'm just a short, chubby 40 year old."

I've been hit on by some of the a-hole firefighters--yes, they know I'm married (to another firefighter), but yet, they think I will still think they are hot. And how can I say this without sounding uncaring? Hmmm, well, I'll just say it. After 9-11, my husband and other firefighters were hit on by women they didn't know more than any other time in their lives. Their station had groupies. Thankfully, my husband is on the "old & married crew," so the women tended to browse the other "younger and single" shifts more, but there were (and still are), women who arrive with freshly baked pies for them on a weekly basis. Some randomly drop by for free blood pressure tests.

I've been trying to come up with a way to help women determine if she has a good guy or a bad guy when dating a firefighter and here are listings to help you figure it out--

You're dating a bad boy firefighter if:

1) He constantly wears something with a firefighter logo on it and looks around to see if anyone is noticing it.

2) He's over 35 and has never been married.

3) He can't cook (all the family types can cook, & pretty well, I might add).

4) He always takes you out and doesn't want to spend time at your place or his place.

5) He has a stupid nickname like "Ace" or "J-boy" or anything with initials.

6) There are "rumors" that he's a swinger or "has a way with the ladies."

7) When you're introduced to the rest of his crew, they snicker and joke, "Is this the flavor of the week?"

8) He drives a motorcycle or slick sports car.

9) You can bounce a quarter off his abs-- sweet firefighters are a tad doughy around the middle.

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How do you know if you're dating a good firefighter--

1) Not only does he open doors for you, but he gently places his hand your back as you enter a restaurant.

2) He cooks you dinner and it's really good.

3) He calls or visits his mother a lot (almost a bit much for your liking).

4) He drives a truck or SUV that's not too perfect.

5) He enjoys sports, but would never paint his face.

6) He has a dog or loves dogs.

7) He doesn't make a big deal about what he does and in fact will joke that he's paid to sleep.

8) He takes care of you.


As a firefighter's wife, I'll tell you, the good ones make the best husbands. The bad ones, well, let's just say the word "hero" does not come to mind.