The Last Week

Today or shall I say tonight, I begin the last week of my full time employment.  After 30 years, I am retiring from dispatching from the police department that I work for.  I can hardly believe that the time has finally come that I can stop working full time.  It never seemed possible that I could work somewhere for 30 years.  Hell, in my mind I don’t think that I’m that old.  But days after I retire, I will turn 57.  Where has the time gone.

When I started working in this small town department, I had one computer and lots of pens and paper.  Everything was hand written, and then much was typed with a typewriter.  Computers for record keeping and dispatching came along in the early 2000.  Little did I know, that after all this time, I would sit surrounded by computer monitors for multiple different uses.  Everything that we use these computers for has been self taught as I have never taken any sort of schooling to learn the operations.  And I am really looking forward to not using so much technology after retirement.  I want to find the time to do things the old school way.  And yes, I realize this journal site is on a computer, but I won’t be surrounded 8 hours a day.  Yay.

The city held a recognition ceremony last Thursday night, where they proclaimed the day to be “Soph” day, 2018.  I was presented a certificate read to me and signed by the mayor of T town.  He ans I graduated high school together and have shared many ups and downs throughout our careers.  He became a little misty eyed, reading the proclamation and it made me tear up a little also.  Then much to my surprise, the fire department presented a beautiful plaque in recognition for my years of service.  This really got me in the old puddle bucket, because the kid who presented it, and is now a captain on the department, was a high school kid that was always just hanging around back in my early days.  So it was a good night.  I brought my mom along to see the show, and Chelsea, my niece came too.  It was nice to hear all the kind words that were said about me, and to realize that I had carried myself thru this career, in the exact manner that I hoped I was doing it.  So after all the hoopla, they had cookies and drinks, and I got lots of hugs and handshakes from all that attended.

So tonight is the first of seven, and then it will be over.  I have been encouraged to come back part time after my grace period, which is 60 days.  I am not sure if I want to do that or not.  I pray to get thru my entire career with out and officer involved shooting, or a line of duty death of one of my officers.  Today, with the happenings in the world, it is truly our worst nightmare, if those things happen.  I have spent a lot of nights and days praying for others that are involved in these incidents.  Yes, I am pro police, but I also feel there are some poor decisions made by officers also.  I just want out before I have to face any of those situations.

I am excited for the next chapter in my life to begin. I have some big hopes that I want to try and accomplish.  I hope to get healthier and lose some weight.  I intend to start walking daily and try to build my body to a stronger, healthier, happier one.  I want to cook more, and garden so that I can preserve my own food, like I used to do.  My mom is starting to age at a faster pace now, as she will be 85 in April.  So, I will be available to help her more readily and do things that she can’t do anymore.  I was lucky enough to get to care for my dad, in is later stages of life, so I think I owe that to mom also.  She has some health issues and may need me to be around a little more than I have been.  One day at a time, will be the speed that I take.

Guess I’ll quit for now, haven’t really said anything, but hopefully this will start to come easily and I can keep my self busy.  I can only hope and look forward to each day.  I know how precious time is now, and I hope to enjoy as much as the Lord will allow.  Later……