I find what draws me to people the most is passion. Whenever I see a truly passionate person I cannot help but be drawn in to them, even if I don't really know or care what they are passionate about. It's really easy to spot these people because those who are outwardly passionate want to share their passion with others.
Today, (while visiting my grandparents for the week in NYC) my brother organized a mini trip for me, Noah, my brother and my older cousin Derrick, to go to the New York City Firefighter Museum. At first I was just willing to go to please my brother who often struggles to find things in the city to do that's fun for him. Upon getting inside the museum for a fee of five dollars, we were met with beautiful
antique fire equipment. It was really great to see all the old strategies people used to combat fire. Technology and science have really come a long way, especially for fire tactics.
Finally we traveled into the sensitive 911 room. 911 always provokes sadness and grief yet a distance feeling of hope, and national pride. For what was a devastating event, there was such a heroic sense of being an American. As I was paying my respects to the wall of photos of those firefighters who lost their lives, I was approached by an old man wearing a white firefighter polo, his name stitched in navy blue. It read Wally. Instantly a deep feeling of love and appreciation swept over me, for reasons unknown. I was instantly drawn in to his big New York personality. Wally, an 80 year old retired firefighter volunteers at the museum. His purpose? Simply to do what he does best - talk.
As Wally handed me a pamphlet he instantly felt like my new best friend. Wally explained to me with his expressive voice that he had been a NYC firefighter for over 34 years, retiring in 1994. As he focused my attention to the horrific photos of 911, he pointed to his own truck, unit 214. Puzzled by this I questioned him about his years in service. He came to tell me that even though he had been retired for some time, when 911 hit he rushed to his old unit, suited up, and fought the flames that every American turned to watch. "Once a firefighter, always a firefighter"stated the charming Wally Malone.
This afternoon Wally told me almost his entire life story. At 80 years old he's proud of everything that he's accomplished in his life-time. All he wishes to do is share that with the people around him. Boy is he a talker and a story teller. We immediately hit it off. Suddenly we had drawn in a huddle of a crowd. I wasn't the only one wanting to hear his amazing tales. After fighting in Vietnam, Wally decided to become a firefighter in New York City. In the course of his 34 years he saw amazing changes. He told me that he had been a member of "the nut house", the nickname given to those crazy enough to serve in the most dangerous fire house around. In the course of one night shift he was called out 48 times. Apparently in the 70's and 80's (when more people smoked), there would be so many small fires lit by cigarettes. Also I learned that when the economy goes down, arsine goes up. He told me they once caught a man who set his store on fire to make money off of his insurance. Wally now lives in Long Island with his wife of 60 years. Even in retirement he's continued to work out every day and stay in amazing shape. I would never have guessed he was 80.
What drew me in the most was simply his passion and his willingness to share it with others. This is what the world is about. People having passions. But what good is that passion if you aren't eager to share it with those you meet along the way?
I think we all need to be a little more like Wally. Stop and talk to people. Don't be afraid to share your interests and your passions. And also… I think we all need to stop and listen. What if I had never stopped to hear what the old man had to say? I never would have gotten the same affect from the museum by just reading plaques and looking at photographs. We just need to stop and listen. Because I stopped and listened I was able to gain an experience that may just be the highlight of my trip.
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