Soapbox

This morning on my way into work, I heard that Route 8 was shut down in Boston Heights and I thought oh it's another bad accident. But then I got to work and the girls were talking about the Police Officer that was killed this morning, I knew what I heard on the radio wasn't just another car accident, it was that Officer and I went to investigate more thinking was it another shooting like the one earlier last year or what could of happened. Then I saw it, Officer killed on Route 8 while picking up debris that he was dispatched to an hour and half before his shift was over. And I thought so sad, and then selfishly I thought of myself and my life.

I don't know in my 13 years of knowing Bryan what was worse being Marine's wife or being Deputies wife, and I know that's silly to say as when he was in the military the world was so different and there wasn't a war going on, but what you don't think of is the times he was on the tarmac ready to be shipped out to God knows where and I had no idea what was going on, or all those many months he was guarding the President and who knows what could of happened then. What I know now to what I knew then, I was naive and young. But let's fast forward to now when everyday he gets in his bullet proof vest, grabs his gear and gun and I kiss him goodbye not even realizing that one day someone could show up at my door. I never really felt that way when we were enlisted, and now until today I hadn't thought about it in a while. Mr. Dean was just a 24 year old, 6 months on the job and thinking this was just another day and in an instant one mistake changed his whole families lives, never to be the same again. That broke my heart, and made me realize that even though I tease Bryan about never pulling his gun out I think I do it to cover up the fear and realization that at any moment he could encounter the same situation and our lives could be changed forever.

So with that said, I know that what Bryan does is something that is not what he does for the paycheck, but for the true love of what he does and wanting to make a difference. And I do call him a glorified babysitter, but today when I was talking to him and over the radio they called all cars to a robbery, and the next thing I know his lights and sirens are going along with his engine reeving and him coming back and saying "I gotta go, I love you" all I could think about was Mr. Dean and how everything changed in an instant.

I guess what I am trying to do is get my point across that in the paper when you read about the sales tax and those who complain about it because we are getting taxed to death, think about what you are saying. And think about all the selfless things the police do to keep your neighborhood safe or come to the rescue when you dial 911 and need help, they don't think ummm I can't afford another tax. They come to your rescue without a complaint or fight, and as with Bryan go out of there way to help you anyway they can. I just don't understand people's fight over something that in one way or another EVERYONE will need in their lifetime, but have no problem spending $9 for a movie and another $20 on food at the movies but complain when they get taxed an extra twenty-five cents per hundred.....what the heck has this world come too??? I for one, support my fire departments, EMT's, police, military all of those who in some point in my life will need and we all should say thank you, not bash them down by complaining about a sales tax that may save our county departments.