I’ve been trying to make myself step back from work just a little bit and spend more time with my family. I admit I do start to feel like I’m on a vacation if I work less than 80 hours a week. But honestly I love what I do. 

Over the years I saw Mike, my older brother; work for Leesville Fire Department and after 20 years of service he was able to retire. His last year of working he loved to call me up and talk about what he planned to do when he retired. But God had other plans not even a year later he went home to be with the Lord. 

This past week we laid to rest a great man of our community. While at his wake I got to spend a few minutes with his wife Amanda and  as I was talking about her beloved Chief Danny Hunt, I made the statement that he was so close to retiring and enjoying what he worked for his whole life. She quickly replied “but he loved his community and he loved his job.” I get it because I love my job too. Suddenly I realized that what a former boss had told me was absolutely true. He would always say, when you find a job you love you would never have to work again. What he meant was when you love what you do, you do it because you love it not because it’s absolutely necessary to pay the bills. 

I grew up with Chief Danny Hunt on Hawthorne Road and I remember when he went into law enforcement. Now I realize that he was very lucky to find a field of work that he loved so early in life. The lessons to be learned is that it is very important to plan for retirement and the future but it’s even more important to be happy everyday. We are not promised tomorrow so live today like it’s your last. 

In honor of my life long friend Chief Danny Hunt better known as Tank and the entire Hunt Family.

Your Mayor

Rick Allen