In follow-up to the story I posted about the fire that affected our home in Austin, Texas, I am thrilled to report that I found the man that saved our house – or rather, he found me. As I was standing in the front yard watering the grass at night, a Lake County Sheriff’s car pulled alongside the curb. He stopped and rolled down his window. Concerned that I might be in trouble for the extra watering during drought conditions, I said, “Hey there. I’m just watering to keep the grass moist – part of it burned during the fire.”
“I know,” he said, “I put it out.”
“You what????” I asked, jaw-dropped.
“I put out the fire in your yard,” he replied calmly. “I came around the corner in my car and I saw the flames, so I parked, got out, and stomped it out with my feet.”
“Are you serious?!?!” I asked, not believing that I was standing there talking to my family’s hero.
“Yeah,” he replied in a very “no big deal – just part of the job” kind of way.
We talked for a while and I thanked him profusely. I told him that I had written an article and given his credit to the Fire Department. He was quick to point out that although he put out the fire in my yard, the Fire Department saved the neighborhood – mentioning how impressed he was by their teamwork and speed. Nonetheless, I wanted to express my immeasurable gratitude.
“You write a blog?” he asked. “You should check out my website.”
It turns out that Senior Deputy Sheriff Greg Lawson is also an author. He wrote a fictional book about zombies and the rights of zombies if they actually existed. I’m not making this up – take a look: www.zombieadvocacy.com
He didn’t seem to want much praise for his heroic act, so I can at least give his website and his book some free press. Go check it out – just in time for Halloween!
Thank you Mr. Lawson, not only for putting out the fire, but for providing us with an example of bravery and humility – and for reminding us that for all that is wrong in the world, there are still reasons to be optimistic.
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