We had a fun in Bountiful helping out my Mom and Dad a few weeks ago. Mom isn't able to do as much as she used to do, so Dad is kind of doing double duty these days. He's doing a great job, but my brothers and sisters and I decided we'd each take a week to give them some extra help with meals, household chores, yardwork, etc. So, once every six weeks, I'll be able to go spend some extra time with them. Kirk has been a great help too. The project this time was to clean my parents drapes that hung in the kitchen over the stove. Kirk loved vacuuming spider webs, and scrubbing the kitchen grease off the walls and windows. He did a great job. My first helping week was a lot of fun - we saw Julie's kids at their Primary Program, cheered on Tommy at his basketball game at SLCC, rode the ForeRunner Train from Bountiful to Salt Lake to Ogden and back, ate lunch at the Gateway, saw the Planetarium, , watched Jazz games and threw in several games of Anagrams too. Besides having lots of good time with my Mom and Dad, I was able to spend time with Nancy, Julie's family, Brent's family and all of Bob's family. It was a great week with my awesome family!
After 33 years in law enforcement, Kirk is hanging up the badge! He will retire as Sheriff of Washington County on January 4th (Mike's birthday). He was sworn in on January 4th as Sheriff 12 years ago, and he was sworn in as a Highway Patrolman on January 4th in 1978. So Mike's birthday has been extra eventful through the years. There have definitely been mixed emotions for us, and especially for Kirk as he has attended many retirement events in his behalf, and has been honored by many organizations, and by many individual people. A retirement open house that the county put on for Kirk had people lined up out of the meeting room, into the foyer, down the stairs and out into the parking lot. He was really humbled by all the attention he received. One night we attended 3 events where he was honored. He's received plaques and statues and gifts (the county gave him an ipad instead of a watch - he's LOVING that), and lots of cards. The most touching to me have been the individual cards and stories that I've read and heard people tell, about how Kirk made a difference in their lives. From a wife telling us that Kirk was the one who stopped her husband from committing suicide years ago, to the man who came into his office and said, "you arrested me 20 years ago, and I spent prison three years in prison . . . and you saved my life" —we heard story after story of his good influence through the years. I think I should write a book about him! I think the comment I heard most often was about Kirk's honesty, integrity, and his "incredible moral compass" (as one person explained it). I am so proud of him and his career.
