Well, loyal readers, I write this as I near the end of my tenure as a firefighter/paramedic with the Janesville Fire Department. I have only four working days left, and my feelings are as mixed as ever.

On the one hand, I remain excited to start a new path in life. On the other, I have intense feelings of sadness that I will be leaving behind the closest friends I have ever had. I highly doubt that I will find friendships like this in the medical community.
While I know I will remain close with everyone, I can't help feeling like I will always be an outsider once I leave. A sort of fire service "alumni".