It's been quite a year for suspended San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, who was celebrating his 51st birthday on Saturday.

The night before, he spoke with KTVU and reflected on the past year, looking closely at how his life has changed and what he's looking forward to now.

He says the highlight of recent days has been reading to his son and speaking with his wife Eliana Lopez over the Internet, as both of whom have been living in Venezuela for the past few months.

It's been only two weeks since Mirkarimi's been allowed to resume contact with his wife after a judge lifted a protective order.

The protective order was issued when Mirkarimi was arrested in January in connection with a Dec. 31 incident in which he grabbed the arm of his wife, Eliana Lopez, during an argument and caused a bruise.

Mayor Ed Lee then suspended Mirkarimi without pay on official misconduct charges, and the city's Ethics Commission was tasked with conducting an inquiry into the matter and making a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, which will ultimately decide whether to remove him from office.

“I mean there's nothing more devastating, at least to me, to not be able to help provide for my family, and be with my family. I'm now able to reunite with my family, and I also want to provide for my family, and do so in the service of the city,” said Mirkarimi.

Mirkarimi told KTVU that being suspended without pay has meant living off his savings and having supporters raise money to pay his legal bills.

“I've never lived this frugal ever in my life,” said Mirkarimi. “We would have to deplete all our savings… We were actually saving to buy a house.”

Mirkarimi showed KTVU Theo's room, saying that he's left everything as it was while everyone waited for their eventual reunion.

His wife and son left for Venezuela more than four months ago, where Lopez was caring for her father and working as an actress.

Last year at this time, Mirkarimi celebrated his birthday with 350 supporters and his family as he ran for sheriff.

He said that on Saturday he would celebrate differently.

“I just might want to take a hike, be in the woods, and then I will spend some time with friends,” said Mirkarimi.

Mirkarimi would not say what he would do if the board of supervisors votes to remove him from office.

He was scheduled to be back here at city hall in less than two weeks for the next ethics commission hearing.