August 2015 – March
2016
When I look at the above dates it almost seems as though
someone has died; living a short 7-month existence on Earth. The true
representation of those dates is actually a journey.
The story begins all the way back in June of 2014. While
visiting my Dad, my sister and her children came to Michigan too for a visit.
My nephew and oldest niece received one of their first Lego kits during this
trip. After heading back to England, the kids realized that a motorcycle helmet
was left at granddad’s house.
Fast forward to July 2015. While Skyping with my sister, my
nephew pops onto the screen and asks me to look for said helmet. Even though a
year had passed, he still had not forgot about a red Lego helmet. So I took out
my Lego box and started digging. What I showed him changed everything. I didn’t
find the red helmet. Instead I held up a Lego guy that didn’t look like it was
from my original collection.
“My Fire Chief!” Casey exclaimed.
Apparently, he was so focused on the helmet that he
completely forgot that he left an entire person. Casey wanted me to mail it to
him but he wasn’t willing to pay for the Fire Chief’s way. So instead he came to
Hawaii with me. In the back of my mind I figured I would head to England at
some point and would reunite Casey with his Lego then.
Thus began the journey of Fire Chief Fernando. My initial
idea was to take a picture of him at all of the different sights and places I
was seeing and send him a different one every month. I ran this idea past
Hilary and she had the idea to put them all in a book and give it too him for
his birthday.
As it always seems to happen, I took her idea a step
further. Over the past months my photo diary of Fire Chief Fernando’s
adventures was filling up nicely. It was time to write his story.
And so Fire Chief Fernando’s Quest for Fire unfolded. The
only thing left to include in the book are his pictures from his journey from Hawaii to England for the last
page.
Part of me is sad that my time with Fire Chief Fernando is
coming to a close. It has been nice having a project to focus on while on my
adventures around the island. I often remind myself that everywhere he has been
I have been too! So thankful for the small little companion who found a way
to weave in an educational lesson about fire at every location.
I hope Casey enjoys learning about this little Lego Man’s
adventures too!
Whenever I tell people that I am going to England for a
break or a holiday trip, I always know what they are imagining…that I am going
to bop around London seeing all of the famous sights eating fish and chips
while drinking in all of the wonderful tones of the British accent. It takes
most more than a few moments to recall that there is more to England than
London. What I mean when I say I am going to England is the equivalent of
someone saying they are going to spend a few weeks at their grandmother’s
house. The idea that the setting is in England does trigger some romantic
sensibilities but the truth of the matter is that I am going to travel half way
around the world to visit my lovely sister, two nieces, and a nephew to
experience the day-to-day life with them. 
I must clarify that I don’t want to mislead. I did spend a
little time in London with my friend Kara, and we did see some of the big
attractions. Like everything with Kara, it was done in an unconventional way
and very much in the moment. I too got to share other moments with her and her
friends around a table at a local pub and chase the sunset at Greenwich Park.
When I look at the above dates it almost seems as though
someone has died; living a short 7-month existence on Earth. The true
representation of those dates is actually a journey.
Apparently, he was so focused on the helmet that he
completely forgot that he left an entire person. Casey wanted me to mail it to
him but he wasn’t willing to pay for the Fire Chief’s way. So instead he came to
Hawaii with me. In the back of my mind I figured I would head to England at
some point and would reunite Casey with his Lego then. 
