Kristin Sokol Day, What?

Nov 14, 2010
As many of you know I have recently retired from my four year career working for the South Valley Journal covering the South Jordan City beat. I really enjoyed my time working for the paper. It was almost always a delight to attend the events and write about all the interesting things happening in the community.

In the end, I just became too busy and too stressed. Not with the paper, but with life in general and I had to give up something to increase the quality of our family life. Although I generally did not WANT to give up the job, I did. And I am glad I did. It has been a relief not to have the responsibility. Interestingly, I have been a lot more cheerful with my kids lately.

During my time in South Jordan I enjoyed making many professional contacts. I am not supposed to call them friends, but when you spend so many years working with delightful people, it is hard not to make friends.

Anyway…last week one of my professional contacts from the city called me and asked if me and my family would be able to attend the city council meeting saying the council had a plaque to present to me. I, anxious to see my peeps at the city, agreed to attend. I do love long boring meetings (for reals).

I invited my parents to come. Next to Steve they are my biggest fans and have loved seeing my name in print and reading the articles I have written. I also invited my children to attend. A mistake I would not make twice. I’d invite Alyssa again, but I’d find alternate entertainment for Sunny.

The meeting commenced with its normal routine. Then came the portion where my name and award presentation was on the agenda. Having sat through at least a dozen of these kinds of things I knew exactly what would happen. Mayor reads off the proclamation and then on special occasions comes down with the roving mic to shake hands with the award recipient and then present said award.

This time however, it went down a little differently. The mayor opened the mic to each council member and they took turns talking about their experience and interaction with me over the years and said what they appreciated about my work in the South Valley Journal. I don’t remember this ever happening before.

Sunny sat through 30 or so minutes of the meeting prior to the award presentation and then decided she needed a drink from the fountain and ONLY I could help her with that at the exact moment they began the award presentation. She begged me rather loudly to take her out for a drink and would cry if my parents or Steve tried to remove her from me. About her behavior I will only say this. It could have been worse, but not much.

I was so caught off guard by the length and depth of the award presentation and the distraction Sunny was creating. After each member of the council spoke, the mayor then came down and said that I was a “jewel”, which might be one of the best compliments I have ever had in my life. I respect the Mayor very much and have worked hard over the years to gain his trust and cooperation. It was very appreciated to have him compliment me like that in public.

He presented me a plaque and read a proclamation declaring, and I kid you not, Nov 16, 2010 as Kristin Sokol Day! For reals! I think I just got my own holiday folks! Move over President’s Day, Arbor Day and Groundhog’s Day. Kristin Sokol Day is coming to town. Instead of planting a tree or looking for a shadow…we share a piece Tres Leche Cake. At least that’s what we did after the meeting.

I was absolutely flabbergasted at this gesture. As if all the kind words and appreciation over the mic in such an official and public setting wasn’t enough. If I remember right, there were only 2 other times when the city declared a day and they were both when Bingham High teams won State or National Championships. All I did was report the community news with some accuracy for four years. And I have to be honest, the only reason I went to so much trouble to be so accurate in my reporting was because I was afraid of repercussions if I filled in the fact-gaps with my best guesses.

I think my face must have been on fire. I felt like I had a fever of 105. I was so surprised and just…flattered. Sunny got to enjoy it with me. I was holding her in front of the group the whole time. Of course I was.

I also brought her with me for the hand-shake turned hug tour on the stand with the council.

I have admired the South Jordan City Council and city as an organization for quite some time. I knew they were happy to have me around as a person and as a reporter, but I had no idea how much they liked and appreciated my work until tonight.


Honestly it was probably a little too much recognition, but hey…who ever complains about being recognized too much. Not me.


I also got a chance to give some thank you’s of my own during the meeting. I was able to thank the council for providing an outstanding example for me to learn the civic and public process. I told them that this experience brought me the education and confidence I will need to be a community leader in the future. Guess what, I can see 2012 from my house too. Just kidding.

I was also able to thank Steve whose idea it was that I apply for this job in the first place and who was the one who supported me the whole time. He proof read all my articles and entertained the kids all the nights I was gone attending meetings. He really deserves most of the credit.

After the award, my parents took the kids to their house so Steve and I could stick around a little longer without constant pestering and interruption. As they often do, the meeting went long and we ended up sneaking out a little early to go celebrate the remainder of my official holiday in South Jordan.

I used the official proclamation plaque to get us to the front of the line and Café Rio where we enjoyed some fine Chicken Tostada’s and a delectable piece of Tres Leche Cake. I plan to make the Tres Leche Cake eating the official event of Kristin Sokol Day. So mark your calendars friends. Next year Nov 16 we’re all eating cake as we remember my fine service as an employee of the South Valley Journal serving the residents of South Jordan City.

I was just kidding about getting to the front of the line at Café Rio. I just left the plaque in the car. However, it is also my understanding that I may present the official proclamation (or a miniature version) to any South Jordan Police officer for whatever predicament I may get myself in and it will guarantee me a free pass. I made that part up too, but if I do ever get it a sticky situation, I’ll probably try it anyway.

Anyway special thanks to all my friends in South Jordan who obviously care about me a lot. All the kind words and well wishes will be treasured for a long time.