What can Brown do for you?

I will begin this blog entry by admitting the fact that I did not witness the events that I am about to recount, but have heard about them through my boyfriend (whom I will refer to as BH to protect his identity ), a key player in this story.

UPS tried to deliver a package to BH just the other day. BH was not at home at the delivery time, so he decided to go to the UPS building to pick up his package. BH decided to take the kids with him. BH and I are the proud parents of a 3 year old German shepard (Tanner) and a 7 month old lab (Buddy). For more on Buddy, see entry "My Dog Has Good Taste."

When BH returned to the car after retrieving his package, he found Buddy in the front seat. BH opened the front door and told Buddy to get in the back seat, a command Tanner obeys without hesitation. True to form, Buddy did not get in the back seat, but instead jumped out of the car and raced around in circles, forcing BH to chase him.

After a brief race, BH captured the hellion and opened the back door to put Buddy in the car. Tanner, either trying to help or bending to Buddy's bad influence, jumped out of the car. Just about this time, Buddy managed to slip from his collar and began the race around the car again. Tanner, on the other hand, ran for building.

UPS has weight sensitive automatic sliding doors. Tanner weighs almost 100 pounds. Despite BH's intense prayers, the doors slid open and Tanner ran inside. BH had visions of Tanner being trapped inside, panicking, and scaring the holy crap out of the poor men in brown shorts. Thankfully, Tanner had the good fortune to run outside before the doors slid closed again.

About this time, BH caught Buddy, the initiator of the Malay, and got Tanner back in the car. All were safe and sound. If children are half as rambunctious a labs, I suspect we might want to re-think having a family... or at least taking the family to UPS.

Noble public servants

My boyfriend is considering going into law enforcement. Many people, upon learning of this plan, have asked me if I have a problem with my boyfriend exploring such a dangerous career. My response is always that I could not be more proud of a man who is willing to put himself into danger's way in order to protect the public. There is no more noble endeavor.

Just a couple of weeks ago, in Tyler, Texas, a man shot and killed law enforcement officers, his ex-wife, and an innocent by-stander on the front steps of the courthouse... a courthouse that I have entered a number of times in my short career as an attorney. It is so very strange to think that on any given day, I could have been on those steps.

And then, just yesterday, a man shot and killed a law enforcement officer, a judge, and a court reporter in a courthouse in Atlanta. Public servants, all three, lost their lives simply because of their career choice. They were murdered while going about their daily business.

My heart is filled with sadness every time someone loses their life, but the injustice of a public servant being slain is almost unbearable. I have unmeasurable respect for anyone who is willing to take a job in the public sector. A police officer's sole responsibility is to protect and serve the community. A judge's calling is to dispense justice and help find resolutions to conflicts in a peaceful manner. While most people go to work to earn a living, these public servants go to work to make the lives of those in the community better and safer.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of those public servants who have lost their lives while going about their noble business. And to my dear boyfriend, I will honestly say that I could not be more proud of your choice to serve the public.