If I stop having deep feelings or any emotions related to the tragedies the coroner's office deals with, that's a prime indicator that I need to reevaluate priorities and think about stopping, ... I'm not there yet.

I've come to realize we are dealing with families at extremely stressful and volatile times. There is no blueprint for how someone is supposed to respond to tragic news.

She was working at an ice cream store, ... I stopped there, I saw her and I fell right in love.

Family practice is extremely rewarding, ... You're involved with families from birth through their grandparent years. You become involved with people's lives and understand the trials and tribulations that every family faces.

My parents placed a high priority on education of their children, as their whole generation has, ... They saw the value of the opportunity that it presented to my generation.

It was a different time then, ... Families did things together. They ate dinner together. Neighbors knew each other and talked just about every day.

There are times that are trying. They're difficult, ... There are times when he has to be away for special occasions. But he continues to put family first, although he may not be present. He stays in touch. He celebrates when he is here, and we communicate. That's a very big thing. Family is a high priority for him.

Those experiences made me aware of the grief process and helped me to recognize how important that is for the families that are left behind.

As a group and as a generation from Centennial, there have been several people from my era who made tremendous contributions to Pueblo.