 |
| Julie, with Sara, in 1989 |
January 6, 2013 -- Rest in Peace, Julie
For the second time in eight months, we got a phone call from Jenny in the middle of the night -- again about Julie, and again with news she had been found unconscious at her home. Julie had been in terrible physical pain for many years, helped only slightly by the pain pills, and she was set for another round of tests and exams to see if a miracle cure existed somewhere.
But Julie passed away that night, having accidentally taken too many pills. She was so smart, helpful, kind, and considerate, and the best aunt a bunch of kids could ever find. She was gone too soon at the age of 49.
She never had children of her own. But boy did she love her nieces, nephews, and her stepsons.
She is forever missed.
...
March 16, 2013 -- The Highlight Of A Great Season
The opponent was mighty, might Moeller, the Cincinnati sports powerhouse. And the setting was the University of Dayton Arena, in the Division I Division finals.
In what was a continuation of a great school year for Chloe, as a student cheerleader, and even for us, who felt we were parents to everyone in her class, the Panthers defeated the Crusaders to move on to the Division I Regionals for the first time in the school's history (Boro had been there several times in Division II).
Whoop. Whoop.
...
She was loved by every one of her teachers. She had great friends, was involved in so many enjoyable activities, was at ball games because she was a cheerleader, was active on the yearbook staff, had countless parties and sleepovers, and was frequently buzzing around her little town of Springboro.
And then on Saturday, June 1, 2013, she put on a cap and gown and received her diploma showing she was a graduate of Springboro High School. Her future looked bright, but where exactly she was headed was in the unknown. She would go to college, and maybe go on to be a teacher, but more likely to go on and be an attorney. Whatever she had in store, we were already proud of her. And we believed in her.
The night before her graduation, he had a party for what seemed like 45,000 people and, in order to prepare for it, we had to spend like $45,000. Everything was beautiful both inside and out, and then forty-minutes before the party, a monster monsoon hit Springboro, destroying everything in its path, well, sort of.
But we got some great pictures before it happened...
June 3, 2013 -- A Whole New Chapter
By the middle of March, we were convinced Julie had become our Guardian Angel who was making things happen. The Kirby Law office was always known as "the office" within the family, and the perception was that owning a law practice had at least more bad than good.
Joe put his name in for the governor to consider as the next Juvenile and Probate Judge in Warren County. He said he did on a lark, not thinking he had the slightest shot at getting the appointment, but it was worth a try.
Around the same time, news came that Ron Carey would retire his position as a magistrate in the Warren County Domestic Relations Court. Judge Oliver had received 30 or more applications, none from me, at least not until one afternoon after my hearing I commented, "I hear you may have a magistrate's position open."
Within days, judge received word that he was the Governor's choice, and Judge Oliver was on the phone asking me when I could start.
Julie?
Things this big do not happen so quickly.
As it happened, so many things were up for renewal at the office, like our expensive copier, and our expensive telephone advertisement. Within a month, we would have been signing on to be personally responsible for these things. And our dad's secretary, Linda McKinney, had been hinting at retirement for a long time.
On Monday, June 3, I walked into the Domestic Relations Court as its newest magistrate. I would keep my Springboro magistrate's position, but I resigned from the one I had in Franklin. Meanwhile, Joe was starting his third month as Juvenile and Probate Court judge.
And just like that, we didn't have office overhead to worry about no more.
That's good.