The happiest day of his life (seriously)

Max's birthday party day was a bliss trip for him, and for me, too.

Bliss for Max:

A fire truck. His all-time favorite one, Ladder 31.

Backing down our street and stopping at our house, accompanied by Fire Chief Joe and his favorite firefighter, Angelo.

To escort him to his firefighter-themed birthday party at the civic house across the street from the fire station.

Firefighter Angelo lifting him up into the truck, as he always does when Max visits the firehouse.

And then a ride—an actual ride—in a fire truck. A dream come true for a kid who is obsessed with fire trucks and fire stations, and who wants to be a firefighter when he grows up.

Bliss for me:

The joy of surprising Max with something so beyond his wildest dreams, he's never thought to ask for it. The firefighters got the idea couple of months ago and told me during one of our regular weekend visits to the fire station. "Would that be OK, Mom?" Firefighter Angelo asked, and I got weepy. Like I've said before, firefighters are some of the best people ever.

Max only found out about it when I heard the fire truck arrive and I said, "Would you like the fire truck to come get you for your birthday party?" (Note the part in the video where he's gazing at awe in the fire truck and says, "Me?!")

Watching him get out-of-his-head happy.

And being filled with sheer gratitude for a gift that Max will never, ever forget.