An Inteview with Sheriff Will Diaz – Part 2 – Meeting the Love of his Life!

This is continuing the interview with Sheriff Will Diaz, the Central Character in four novels and counting.

Sheriff Will Diaz: So, now that we got my taste in clothing out of the way, you want to talk about Jewell?

Rich Muniz: That’s right, Sir.

Sheriff Diaz: Rich, a reminder. Don’t call me “Sir.” I work for a living.

Rich Muniz: Ah, sorry. What’s Jewell’s full name.

Sheriff Diaz: Jewell Ibarri-Diaz.

Muniz: Ibarri? That’s Basque, isn’t it?

Sheriff Diaz: Yes, it is. Her family has been here in the New World since almost the beginning.

Muniz: So, she has a rich genetic background.

Sheriff Diaz: She does. She has Basque, Spanish, and French. Toss in a little Italian and Jewish heritage, and you got my girl.

Muniz: Does she speak, ah what do they call the Basque language?

Sheriff Diaz: A little. And they call it Euskara.

Muniz: And she’s also a musician.

Sheriff Diaz: Yes. Until recently, she played keyboards and sang with the group “The Boys Plus One.”

Muniz: What kind of music do they do?

Sheriff Diaz: Both kinds. County and Western. A little classic rock tossed in.

Muniz: Very funny. Do you play any musical insturment?

Sheriff Diaz: Only the radio.

Muniz: How did you guys meet?

Sheriff Diaz: The first time I spoke to her, I was in Iraq. We were guarding a phone tent that had been set up for the troops. My marriage was on the rocks and after almost two years, I decided to get on with my life. I found a lawyer back home that could handle things by remote control. I called him to get it set up.

The night I called, it was raining cats and dogs in Iraq. Everything was wet and the tent was falling down because the stakes were coming out of the ground. I was standing in about half an inch of water when I made my call.

I remember the phone ringing and when she answered, I identified myself. Then she says “Hello” again. It took me a moment to realize what was going on. My signal was going up to a geosynch sateliite. Maybe through another, and finally to a ground station in the states. It was proof that while the speed of light was fast, it wasn’t that fast.

Anyway, I talked to her for a moment, she hands me off to my lawyer, and then back to her. So I talked to her for a few more minutes. When I said good bye and hung up the phone, I heard this little voice in the back of my head say, “Pay attention here. Something important just happened.”

I didn’t meet her face to face till several months later. I’d come home from Germany where I was stationed. While home, I had to go in a see my Lawyer.

Muniz: What happened?

Sheriff Diaz: That’s not important here. Let’s just say the cops, social services, the courts and everyone in sight got involved. I called up to my Lawyer and spoke to Jewell. I told her I had to see my attorney and explained, “You know that nice, friendly divorce I got going? It’s about to turn into World War Three.”

I went up that afternoon.

When I arrived and entered the law offices, sitting behind the desk is the single, most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I mean here’s a striking dark headed beauty who took my breath away.

She asked if she could help me, I introduced myself, and she said, “Hello. I’m Jewell.”

Muniz: What did you do?

Sheriff Diaz: What else do you do when confronted with a lady like her. I took her hand and said, “Ah. At last. The face behind the voice.” And I kissed her hand.

Muniz: Smooth!

Sheriff Diaz: I have no idea what prompted me to do that.

CONTINUED

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