When the wind blows and rain scatters across the window, I melt. I slowly sink deeper and deeper into my bed. I clear my mind and listen to the whistling wind as it grows stronger. As the noise level climbs, my eye lids fall lower and lower. As soon as I'm about to slip away, I always question what you might be doing out there at this very moment.
Waiting to be sent to an outage.
Working in the pouring rain.
Fighting the gusts of wind that try to knock you down.
Taking cover from the storm that has already gathered so much energy.
You are never afraid and you never back down from what you are about to fight for days and days. Sometimes its just a quick storm that blows through, but other times, it's a demon that is set out to capture a town or two. You head out into the darkness with your brothers, not knowing if you all will return safely. You encounter many different obstacles, like downed trees, snapped lines, and broken cross arms, but to you, it's just another day at work.
No matter what happens, you keep going. You won't stop and can't let yourself stop until every light is cut back on. You can't bear to see schools without children in them or homes filled with joy or even just a lamp post that isn't lighting the sidewalk. You want every single store, school, and company open as fast as possible. You work day and night, skip lunch and sometimes dinner, just to get power back to one home. You want that power back on so that little boy can watch tv with his dad...so that little girl can cook dinner with her mom...so that man with an oxygen tank will be able to breath.
You will not take any chances on letting anyone else be hurt by the destruction a storm has caused. You put your own life on the line just to save others. You know how dangerous it is to be out there. You know the life changing events that can happen. You know that you may never come home to your family. But to you, it's all worth it. If you can save just one more person... cut one more light on... your purpose on this earth will be fulfilled.
You always keep going and for that, I am forever grateful for you. I know how important I am to you. I understand your love for your family, but I also understand the love you have for your community and making sure everyone is happy and safe. You are the most selfless man I know and that is what it truly takes to be a lineman. Only someone special can leave their family at the drop of a hat. Getting up and going to work at 3 AM isn't for everyone, but it is for you. Your willpower and drive to be the best you can be is what makes you so successful at being a lineman. I am forever thankful for you and your sacrifices. You truly are the definition of a lineman. Keep up the great work, we are all rooting and praying for you and your brothers.
