On Christmas morning, mom and dad roll out of bed after a full night's sleep, as the kids wait patiently to tear open presents by the Christmas tree. The family takes their time with the Christmas morning ceremony and enjoys sharing the day together. They don't have any place to go and take in the laidback atmosphere while checking out newly received items.
Now imagine what really happens. Mom and dad wake up way too early to keep the kids happy or in some cases, to head off to work.
In case of emergency, hundreds of area residents will punch the clock today, including firefighters, police officers and nurses.
FIGHTING FIRES
Three of the four platoons of the Jamestown Fire Department will have worked on Christmas weekend by its conclusion. Shawn Shilling, Jon Winchester, Ryan Roush and John Johnston worked on Christmas Eve and will clock back in tonight. The four men, who make up part of Platoon 2, have known their holiday schedule all year. This year, it worked out so Platoon 2 worked on Christmas Eve day and on Christmas night.
"It's not like it's a last-minute thing," said Winchester, who has a wife at home. "It's kind of nice having your schedule ahead of time. You can plan where you're going to be ahead of time."
The firefighters have known they needed to work on Christmas since the beginning of 2011. However, that doesn't necessarily make the day's schedule any easier.
"It's still a pain if you've got family coming in," said the recently engaged Roush. "You can get stuck not seeing somebody or not being able to do something, especially if they're only in town for a couple days. Most people are pretty understanding though."
Shilling and Johnston will each leave their four children to head to work tonight.
"Sometimes the kids don't understand, especially when they're very young," Johnston said. "Then you explain it to them and they understand. To me, it doesn't seem like we're any different from anybody else who has to work on a holiday."
Once they clock in, the firefighters try to keep the mood lighthearted. Some years, family members stop in and visit them on Christmas.
"We usually try to do a nice dinner and get together with our work families," said Winchester.
If and when a fire starts, the four men will have to leave their holiday thoughts behind and act as though it's just another day. However, the firefighters noted their jobs can be more stressful around the holidays, especially if families lose gifts or even loved ones.
"Say for example we get a call because grandpa is having a heart attack. Maybe by helping him, he can be there for another Christmas," said Shilling. "We've all had other jobs or paths we've taken and nothing comes close to this."
"You've got a duty and a dedication to your career to serve the public," added Johnston. "When a family's stress is relieved, even a 'thank you' isn't necessary for me."
ANSWERING THE CALL
Jamestown Police Department officer Rob Bender we'll roll out of bed and head to work this morning, leaving behind his wife and kids.
"When most people are able to go home and open presents with their family, I'll be here, and they'll do that on their own," he said. "It's just a part of the job. We still have to answer calls for service and help people."
The seven-year veteran of the police department will finish the holiday celebrations with his family tonight.
Working on holidays isn't anything new for Officer Bender. He's missed anniversaries, birthdays and Christmases to earn a paycheck.
Although he expects a fairly normal day of work, he said spirits will be a little brighter today in and out of the police department.
"It's a holiday mood, but at the same time when we're needed, we go. It's another day of business," he said.
Some may wonder how frequently a police officer would need to respond to calls on Christmas day. According to recently retired Captain Barry Swanson, the answer is quite surprising.
"One of my first Christmases working, I couldn't believe it. We responded Christmas morning to a family fight," he said. "They damaged their Christmas presents. They weren't being so nice to each other."
Throughout the years, the department has handled its fair share of domestic dispute calls on Christmas day. In the case of poor weather conditions, officers will need to respond to several traffic accidents as well.
"We might miss Christmas mornings, but it's the profession that we've chosen," Captain Swanson said. "We're out there to help people, and we want to be there when they need us."
HOLIDAY CARE
Jason Green has been a nurse at Lutheran Social Services for 17 years. During that timespan, the man has worked his fair share of holiday shifts. Today's shift will be at least the eighth on Christmas for the Jamestown native.
He'll work from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"That's kind of the toughest shift to work on Christmas," he said. "It's when the kids open their presents."
Green has two children, ages 10 and 14. On the Christmases he has to work, he'll wake up before 5 a.m., make some coffee and then wake the kids.
They'll open presents, he'll drive off to work and then he'll return home to join in on the festivities later on.
"The kids are used to me working on the holidays. We just try to make the best of it," Green said.
He'll try to make today as good as possible for the people he sees at work every day as well, particularly the people for whom he provides care.
"You might say there's people who don't have any family who come to see them, but I'm here every day. You kind of become their family," he said. "Even if I'm missing out on some of my own home time, I'm here spending it with my extended family, including the staff. You work with the same people every day, and you really start to feel close to them. Around the holidays, we're celebrating those kinds of things: closeness and being grateful for our fellow man."
The Christmas spirit was on display at LSS. A Christmas tree stood in the corner of a lounge area, and some planned to wear Santa hats and Christmas smocks this weekend.
Today, Green expects to be busy with lots of people going in and out. He'll also try to keep the spirits bright for those who won't leave or host visitors.
"There's a certain sentimental side to people. They think about years past and the things that they've lost," he said. "A lot of times there's a lot of cheering up that goes on. Usually in the long run, with everyone's positive energy, we make it a happy thing."
Kimbra Chase, counselor in the Chemical Dependence Unit at Jones Memorial Health Center, will work from 12:30 to 5 p.m. today. Her two kids have moved out of the house, but she's had to schedule holiday plans with her father, who lives in Bradford, Pa., around her shift. She'll drive down to see him both before and after work, but she doesn't mind the few hours of work in between.
"I really like working on certain holidays. Christmas is one of them," said Chase, who has worked on six Christmases. "I think the population we serve are some of the strongest people I know. They've gone through many tramas a lot of different times. They show me so much."
Today, she'll have patients draw names out of a hat. From there, they'll do something spiritual, but not necessarily religious, for each person whose name they draw. Some will draw pictures. Others will write poems. Some will read Bible verses.
"I get so much strength from that," Chase said. "Sometimes their addiction has taken them to places where they don't have jobs or family. Sometimes it's the first Christmas when they haven't been using drugs and alcohol to get them through. It's a blessing to be able to work on a holiday."
Dan Tyler, administrative nurse at WCA Hospital, enjoys spreading Christmas cheer while working around the holidays. He wishes his fellow workers a merry Christmas and tells them "thanks" for a job well done all year long.
"If it wasn't for the nurses, we wouldn't have the hospital," said Tyler, who was scheduled to work on both Christmas Eve and Christmas. "I stop in and see a few patients throughout the day, wishing them a merry Christmas too."
Tyler will work his 17th Christmas shift today at WCA, where he has been employed for 29 years. He planned to celebrate Christmas with his father, wife and daughter on Christmas Eve, following work.
