I've been working for 32 years at Shell as a chemical research engineer. The last 16 years I switched to the safety department and ended my career as manager of the Emergency Response services of Shell.
During that time I also worked as one of the volunteers at the local fire brigade, for 20 years. First as one of the fire fighters, then as the driver of the fire truck and later as one of the commanding officers.
20 years I've worked at new year's eve. Sitting at home and enjoying the day and evening with family. Most of the time the pager would alarm me for the first time that day around 4 PM. Rushing to the fire station, doing our work and coming home again after 45 minutes or so. That continued till 8 PM. Then it was always quite till 11 PM. The services called for multiple fires from that time. Leaving the house for a return home not earlier than 2 or 3 AM at the first of January. I still can remember the faces of my lovely daughters, looking at me with eyes that said "you will set of the fire works for us this night please" or the face of my dear wife that would make me act very carefully at the streets. I knew that all three of them would wait till I returned home. Often we lightened our fire works at 3 PM. Only the wonderful glittering ones, never bought the big bangs.
I never had problems with working during the night times, especially on nights like Christmas Night or New Year's Eve. I always experienced a kind of different energy in the air, an energy of coherence, of togetherness, sameness, love and companionship.
During these years I learned a lot about the behavior of people during festivities like these. I learned to listen to them and learned to talk with the guys building big fires. Always to prevent further escalation, not to forbid having fun. Sometimes I succeeded, sometimes I needed the help of the colleagues of the fire department or the police. It were special times and I am grateful to my wife and daughters for the patience they had to trust me and to let me go to evolve myself and to experience what I had to learn or just needed to experience. They all were aware of the unsafe situations I could ran into and they were always prepared to listen to my stories when I returned, sometimes funny, sometimes not at all funny.
Nowadays I am working for the Medical Doctors emergency services. Last two years I was not on duty and must admit that I am enjoying that to the max. Together with the family having quality time.
It is my wish and hope that during tonights services my colleagues from the fire department, police, ambulances and medical doctors as well as hospital personnel will have safe times, will have the opportunity to celebrate the new year in all happiness with family friend or colleagues.
With Love, sparkling Light and lots of Laughter,
Peter
