Protecting, Serving and Celebrating

This week Washington D.C. has been the safest place on the planet.  Or not, depending on how you look at it, I guess.

It's National Police Week.  And they are convening their annual get together there.  Few professions in the world celebrate each other the way police officers do.  Perhaps it's because no one else will.  And this week, it does not bother them.  They do a job that almost no one is willing to do and do well, and almost everyone is willing to criticize.  This week they celebrate the living and they celebrate the dead.  And unfortunately, lately too many have paid the ultimate price. 

My own personal hero skipped out the door Wednesday morning at 5:15 am (that's right, I said AM) to go commune with The Brotherhood for 6 days or so in Washington D.C.  Normally this is a man who hates to fly and certainly won't greet the morning with a smile. 

This year is even more special for countless reasons.  The first being...he is alive to go at all.  A miracle that we are thankful for every day. 

And in addition to meeting up with his friends from New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, California and Australia, this year, he gets to take along his two best friends from Texas for all the fun and the ceremony. 

I have no doubt that countless toasts will be raised.  I have no doubt that some whoppers will be told.  And nothing rejuvenates Brian like this week with people who understand him like no one else ever can.  And it doesn't matter where they are from.  They make connections that last and it gets them through until next year.