Lucky, I guess

So I'm doing this NaBloPoMo thing, partly because I just don't have it in me to write a novel in a month but I'm a little jealous of friends who do, and partly to see if it jumpstarts this blog into something more interesting and useful.

The website that is sponsoring the month (offering prizes!) also posts a "writing prompt" every day. So far, I haven't bothered with them. The few I've seen haven't really been useful here.  But today's is different. It's about luck. It asks "What is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to you?"

First, I'm not sure I believe in luck. As they say, the only sure thing about luck is that it runs out. I'd far rather rely on skill, on planning, or even on courage, than on luck.

That said, some things have happened that could be seen as "lucky" if you want to swing that way.

Like the MVA that happened just after we had canceled the ambulance because our patient signed off. That meant that the ambulance- our ALS backup- was less than a minute away, instead of at least twenty. We were within sight of the crash. Not that the MVA was the lucky part, by any means, but if it had to happen, they sure picked a good time, as far as getting help.

Or the several times that we've been toned for something while already in the car, almost at the incident location. For some reason, we've gotten several calls while I'm on my way home, just before the intersection I need to turn at to go directly to the scene. I've heard more than one comment about how they couldn't figure out how I got there so quickly.

Likewise, getting toned after taking food out of the oven, rather than in the middle of baking something.

Or calls during a break in the weather instead of at the worst of it.
Oh, wait. I made that one up. Wishful thinking!

Seriously, if I were to write about the "luckiest thing that ever happened to me" as it relates to EMS, it has to be that I'm in a position to be doing this at all. I've wanted to be an EMT since way back in "Emergency!" days, like so many others, and after heading several other directions, and raising a family, I've been fortunate indeed to be able to do that thing I've always wanted to do.

Not everyone gets that chance- and many who do, don't take it.