More Goodbyes

Goodbyes are not forever.  Goodbyes are not the end.  They simply mean I’ll miss you, until we meet again!

Life is full of hellos and goodbyes.  Sometimes the goodbyes are just for a little bit; sometimes they are for a lifetime.  The past week or so I have said goodbye (thankfully not the lifetime type of goodbye) to two amazing people.  The first goodbye was my friend Brian who is taking a new job as a police officer in Las Vegas.   I have been lucky enough to know Brian for over 5 years when he started to work for ISP as a dispatcher.  He was just a kid, barely out of high school and still proudly wearing braces.  Even though he was young he was a good, solid dispatcher.   Almost immediately I liked him and we quickly became friends.  Brian is the kind of person who has an amazing heart.  While working for ISP he was driving home from work and stopped and helped a dog on the side on I84 that had been hit by a car.  Because of his actions he even made it on the news. 

 

Since he was little he wanted to be an officer so it came as no shock when he was hired on as officer at Mountain Home PD as soon as he turned 21 (he started POST at age 20 and turned 21 right after). 

 

He still came in and helped dispatch at ISP from time to time (which I might add he always rocked at no matter how much time would pass between shifts) and every time he walked through those doors I couldn’t help but smile.  We would talk or text from time to time and I loved watching how he quickly became an amazing officer.  I liked to joke with him he was the poster child for Mt Home PD as he was always on their Facebook page.  When I think of a role model for officers Brian comes to my mind. 

 

I kept hoping that one day he would become a Trooper and my wish almost came true but then he meet a girl and we lost him to Las Vegas PD.  A few weeks before he left Brian made the news again; this time is was for saving the life of an elderly female from a house fire.  I had to smile when I heard about it, it doesn’t surprise me at, he is just that kind of guy.  We were able to meet for lunch a couple weeks ago to say our goodbyes.  I had taken one of my favorite pictures I had taken of him and had it printed on canvas to give to him.  The moment he saw it both our eyes started to water and neither one of us could really talk. 

 

I am thankful to know Brian.  Las Vegas is lucky to have him and I know he will do amazing things for them.  I am going to miss seeing his face but know we will stay in touch. 

 

Good luck Brian and stay safe!!  You will be missed here in Idaho!     

My second goodbye was to one of my Troopers, Craig Boll, who retired.  I was lucky enough to witness his last duty as an officer and it was to be an honor guard member at ATC #44’s graduation Friday, Sept 23. 

(he is the one holding the Idaho flag)

 

I have been lucky enough to get to know Craig through the years being his dispatcher as well as taking pictures of events where the honor guard participated in or when he had helped out with ATC classes. 

 

He is another officer that I know that is just the best of the best.  Hard working with a good heart and someone that I look up too.  He has a way of making me feel good about the job I do as dispatcher and I always enjoyed when I got to work with him. 

 

When I heard he was retiring I knew I wanted to do something special for him so I printed off one of my favorite pictures of him on canvas (similar to the gift I did for Brain). 

 

On his last day I was able to take pictures of him performing his last duty.  I felt tears spring to my eyes more than one.  During the graduation they had Craig stand in front while they thanked him for his service to ISP as well as to the people of Idaho.  After graduation I was honored to take pictures as he handed off his number (their numbers are a big part of who they are at ISP) to the new “baby” Trooper who he knows, it was a very special moment to both of them.  There wasn’t a dry eye as it happened, including both Troopers.  It was my favorite moment of the whole day and something I will never forget. 

 

I hope to stay in touch with Craig and wish him a happy retirement.  I am going to miss working with him like crazy!      

 

IPOM

I have worked for the Idaho State Police for 7.5 years and cannot even begin count the amount of times I have driven by the Idaho Peace Officers Memorial.  It is right at the entrance of the complex.   It is relatively a simple memorial but I love it.  Each name on that wall means something and is a daily remember to me how quickly things can change.  Every now and then I drive by at just the right time as the sun is setting in the background.  The feeling of standing at that memorial with a breathtaking sunset in the background is humbling and peaceful at the same time.  I was able to do just that the other night.  While I know pictures can never grasp the beauty as seeing it in person I can’t help but try and capture the moment. 

 

Last year the memorial added blue lights that shine at night.  It gives it a soft blue glow that I love.  I bought a new phone this last month and it took one of the better night pictures I have been able to take.   While it is hard to see the blue I am happy that it turned out as well at it did.  I hope I never lose my love for the memorial and that I will continue to notice it each time I drive by.  Blessed are the Peace Makers and may God watch over and protect them.   

 

Rex

 

On Sept 26 the Watson family dog Rex passes away at the age of 12 (he would have been 13 this coming December).  We all knew it was coming as he has been diagnosed with cancer over a year and half ago but it still felt like it hit us hard and fast.  One day he seemed to be doing well and then bam!  He went downhill fast.  I think however that was a blessing because it didn’t leave us and especially it didn’t leave Brian and Amy (who have been taking care of him while my mom and Lynn are on their mission) guessing when it was time to let him go.

When I first meet Rex I had a lot of anger issues.  I was not happy about my mom and Lynn’s marriage and I didn’t like spending time over at their house.  Rex, who was this cute little fluff ball, help to soften my heart.  He won me over and the amount of love that dog gave me was what I needed.  He is also one of the best dogs I have known.  Oh sure he had his moments of crazy like chewing up the kitchen table leg or gathering up the neighbors newspapers and bringing them all home, but overall he was a good dog that all of us loved.  He helped to teach Molly and my other dog Bosco to swim and then tired to drown them from time to time just to show he was the top dog of the pond. 

 

He was the king of eating whipping cream from a can and and was always first in line when my mom pulled it out.  He loved to chase and hunt squirrels, much to my horror I even witnessed him catching one.   

 

If you grabbed a sharpie marker he would go crazy and start “sneezing” while showing his teeth.   I taught him early on that every time I left I would give him a treat so he was always happy to see me but even happier when it was time for me to leave. 

 

He could play fetch with the best of them.  Most of his toys didn’t last a day but every now and then he let a few of them live…at least for awhile.   He was always so soft after baths and such a good looking dog. 

 

He wasn’t the best at letting me take pictures of him but every now and then I was able to get a few really good ones. 

 

He was good with the little kids and quickly learned they were the ones to sit by during dinner time as they often dropped food. 

 

I would love to try and fool Rex by acting like I was leaving and then hide, he would go nuts tracking me down.  There would be times I would be having a rough day and would sneak out of the house but Rex always noticed and would run after me.  I loved that dog with all my heart.  Through the years Rex went from a deep orange color to having a white face and gray salted hair. 

(this picture isn't Rex, but I love the quote)

 

He slowed down some but if anyone said the word squirrel he would jump up and take off looking for it.  When my mom and Lynn advised us all they were on a mission I worried who would take Rex.  When they went to the MTC a guy in their ward took Rex and I felt sick about it.  I didn’t want him living the last of his days with strangers.  My step brother Brian and his wife Amy came to the rescue and decided to bring Rex to Texas with him.  They have taken care of him for 6 months and I am externally grateful to them.

 

I believe that Rex is now running around pain free on the other side waiting for us.  My only worry is when my time comes he will be excited to see me but more excited to see me go.