The passing of this last year has been marked by events in place to say good-by to what was. Events I never though as a teacher I would be a part of. In January of 2017 our school lost an amazing student Ally Hooten. To honor her a building/gym is being built. Several events were planned to honor her and raise money for this new building. One of those events was the Legacy22 5K run in September of 2017. I was so blessed to have several of the girls from the gym do this 5K with me. I started the race with all the girls together but as we started some ran forward and we all separated. I walked most of the 5K with my friends that had injuries and couldn’t do much running. Quickly I notice just behind me on my heels was the Hootens. Jana and Steve the parents of the young lady that had passed away. I notice how quiet they were. My heart was already heavy with what this event represented. I’m a fixer and I wanted to fix things for the moment we all found ourselves in. Coming up on my right was a Richardson police officer there to secure our safety during the run. I stepped forward and grabbed his hands and twirled him around. As I turned him around I saw Jana and Steve’s face they smiled. That was all I needed to see. I danced with every police officer through out the rest of the race. They all were excepting of my spontaneous dancing.
Towards the end of the race we were approaching an officer that wasn’t smiling too much. I looked back at Steve and said he won’t get mad and arrest me will he. Steve said no he is a good guy it will embarrass him so go ahead. As I approached him his face and head got really read. I grabbed his hands and we did a couple of spins. The entire time he was so red. We exchanged a few kind words and I went on my way. That gentlemen was Officer David Sherrard the Richardson police officer that was killed on February 7th. I had no idea that I had danced with a hero. A man who put his life on the line that night to serve and protect his community. My friend Jana messaged me and told me that was him. I remembered him but Jana confirmed which officer he was. My heart sank for a moment as I thought about how simple that moment in my life was, but now it had so much more meaning.
I have spent the evening praying and thinking. I watched the news as his wife spoke at the service. There was one line that keeps ringing in my head. She spoke about loving your spouse because you never know what the next moments bring. What a strong and amazing women to stand at her husband’s service and try her best to wake us up with her pain. To stand and warn others of the missed moments you will never get back. To stand and try to put into words how important it is to love each other. Clearly she is thinking way beyond what most of us do. Her words are big and fill my heart with attention to the ones I love in my life. Moments are short as are the lives we live. My heart is heavy for this family and the journey they are now on. God bless them in this walk may it be heavy with loving family, friends and memories. Rest in peace Officer David Sherrard.
