A few days ago I stopped to tell a neighbor about the robbery that had happened in our neighborhood. I wanted to make sure everyone around us was more vigilant. Then I went off to go to my Zumba class.
When I neared where our classes are held I saw about five squad cars across the street with about seven or eight policemen standing outside the house. There was also a strange awful odor.
One of my Zumba friends told me that a decaying body had been found in the house. It must have been someone who died of natural causes since nothing was mentioned in the news about a murder. Isn't it sad to have died without anyone realizing you'd been gone for quite a while?
I called my brother at the police station to tell him about this. Dennis said this wasn't all that uncommon an occurrence. A lot of these things are not reported in the news. That shook me up. I wondered what else was going on that we didn't know about.
First a robbery and now this. I thought we lived in a quiet, sleepy neighborhood, but lately I'm feeling more and more unsettled.
I'm rather melancholy right now.
When I neared where our classes are held I saw about five squad cars across the street with about seven or eight policemen standing outside the house. There was also a strange awful odor.
I called my brother at the police station to tell him about this. Dennis said this wasn't all that uncommon an occurrence. A lot of these things are not reported in the news. That shook me up. I wondered what else was going on that we didn't know about.
First a robbery and now this. I thought we lived in a quiet, sleepy neighborhood, but lately I'm feeling more and more unsettled.
I'm rather melancholy right now.
Oh Kay, I'm so sorry you had to come upon this sad scene. I guess only a murder would have been worse.
ReplyDeleteOne of the last things I pray every night in bed is "Please God, don't let me die alone." (That is after I ask that there me no terrorist or burglar entering my home during the night, no missiles or poison gas or atomic bomb, no earthquake or fire.)
And it's not that I am a worrier; I'm just a realist, and this is part of life (in Israel, at least).
I hope you will recover soon from the upsetting things you have seen in the last few weeks, Kay. Wishing you shalom/peace.
You sure do live in a rather unstable place, Dina. I always admire the peace you hold within you despite the turbulence around you.
DeleteDid you read about the 3 year old boy who was found emaciated and dehydrated living with his dead mother? She had died of natural causes, but her son could only find sugar to eat, as he was not strong enough to open the refrigerator door and unable to open any canned food. He also had rubbed lotion on his mom's skin, thinking it would wake her up. The police had to kick open the door to get to the boy, because the door had been chained to the wall. The mother had been dead for several days, and her odor had led the police to her apartment. Now that is sad!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I did hear about that. That's so awful.
DeleteWhen I read meters years ago, part of our job was to be aware of "smells." Now days with a lot of meters being read electronically, that fail safe is gone. That really is an awful way to go and what gigi describes is just horrifying.
ReplyDeleteYou really have been exposed to some very unsettling events.
Kay this last incident is a more natural tragedy, don't feel so bad.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Christine, be happy Kay, life is not all bad, this was just a sad happenstance but the person's spirit was long gone, the last few days have been enough to make us all feel the harsh realities of life, this was just one more sad sad story, the poor person,
ReplyDeleteI am most worried about our neighbor who was robbed. They are still suffering from the shock of it and I don't know how to help them enough beyond bringing over things to eat.
DeleteI'm sorry this has happened in your neighborhood, Kay. I do hope the person who died was elderly and had lived a long and happy life. Sending you some virtual hugs.
ReplyDeleteI know it is unsettling to see such things and even more so when it happens close to home. It is sad that no one was aware that the person had died. I'm sure it is true that we don't usually hear about this kind of thing.
ReplyDeleteI hear a lot of these stories. Sometimes they only figure it out if they get the newspaper. Once the papers start littering the yard, someone gets curious
ReplyDeletewe can't dwell on just the negative there is also positive in the world to balance the ying-yang. All we can do is be an influence for good and love with others we come in contact with and not let the negative overcome our grandchildren-hope, love and faith are still alive in the world...
ReplyDeleteI live in a neighborhood where people are aging in place. We tend to check on each other. With so many older women living alone, that is very important I think. Sorry about your neighbor. I know it was tough. Mom is blessed she has you and Art living with her.
ReplyDeleteThat's why we returned to Hawaii. Mom says all her friends are envious of her.
DeleteI fear that the longer we live the more tragedies we come across. Yet for all that I think that the world is generally a pretty good place.
ReplyDeleteHow very sad, I have heard of such cases but not in a long time.
ReplyDeleteI don't find that strange at all. Any person who lives alone and doesn't go to a work place every could have this happen to them. I think of that for myself. One just never knows and there are days that I don't contact anyone and if anyone called they would just assume I'm out walking or at the store. When I lived in Bozeman there was a county service where they would call you every day to make sure the person is OK. But unfortunately, they don't have it here.
ReplyDeleteSounds like your soul is expanding. Remember compassion is the healer to ourselves & the world. Bless you
ReplyDeleteHi Kay -- Sorry you had to see this. Hopefully, she was elderly and not in pain. (It only takes about 2-3 hours for a body to begin to "change." For everyone's dignity, this is why hospice nurses want any (or additional)family to come within 2 hours after a patient expires.)
ReplyDeleteJust enjoy life and keep friends around you. Any of us could fall down the stairs at any age, but we take the risk to go about our lives. Unless we have a lingering illness, it's hard to know how we may exit this world. If it is meant to be, many mortals are ready to help on that journey.
Aloha for today's sunshine, DrumMajor
I'm really worried about our neighbor who got robbed. The shock has been too much for my mother's friend. She is having a hard time coping with the shock. The husband is showing some signs of forgetfulness. I know he was supposed to have some early stages of dementia but he came over yesterday to tell us all about it as though we'd never heard it before. He forgot that we'd observed it. That really startled us. I'm so worried about them.
DeleteSuch a beautiful post DrumMajor :-)
ReplyDeleteKay, so sad this has happened in your neighborhood. So many tragedies happen daily but when they occur to someone you know or a person in your neighborhood, it's so much more disturbing. I sometimes can't sleep just thinking about tragedies or losses and wonder why man has to endure so much pain and unpleasantness. What's the purpose? That's when husband will say maybe that's why people go church.
L...w
Art says we should go out for a nice lunch as Roy's with mom to perk us up. It's been a rather down time for us. I also have a $25 gift certificate to Roy's that I haven't used yet.
DeleteArt really has a soft spot. I recall last year when your mom praised Art being quite the catch for a son in law. Lunch at Roy's should definitely earn the moon lol
DeleteL...w
We have troubles in our neighborhood, too, and I feel helpless to do anything about them.
ReplyDeleteThis happened to a church member. She died on her kitchen floor and was not found for 3 days when no one could reach her by phone. Fortunately, when my friend arrived at the house, she could see in the kitchen window and see Doris lying on the floor. We have an elderly neighbor that I begin to worry about if I don't see her out for a couple of days. But, so far, so good.
ReplyDeleteI have a relative I fully expect this to happen to. She has no family but me. I'm in Oregon & she is in Texas. She's a hoarder & allows no one to enter her house, including me.
ReplyDeleteAs Amanda said, the longer we live, the more tragedies enter our lives. I haven't come across this one yet, myself, but I can't discount it. I know plenty of people who are 80+ and living alone.
ReplyDeleteI know it must be very unsettling for you, Kay, but chances are it wasn't a crime. Maybe talking to your beautiful granddaughter on Skype will reassure you that all's well with your world.
Luv, K
One of my daughter's friend's toddler is in the hospital after an adverse reaction to an immunization. Another of her friends' 12 year old daughter got the flu and suffered a heart attack. My daughter was calling from the hospital saying the child had flat lined for a while and they are worried of significant brain damage. I'm listening to news updates about Boston. It's such a terrible time.
DeleteYes, it's very sad to die alone and it is a horrible time in the world. I hope in time you will find some peace Kay.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be an abundance of bad news lately. But then the good news never makes it into the broadcasts.
ReplyDeleteYes sometimes a lot of disasters happen all together. It is terrible when somebody dies all alone. I live in a village where people watch each other and see to neighbours who are living by themselves like I do.My neighbour is always worrying when she didn't see me for some days, so I always tell her when I go away for a couple of days.She tells me when they go away.In a city people are not always interested in their neighbours and live next to each other without even knowing who they are.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you will find life worthwhile again after this weekend.Fortunately the second Boston bommer has been found! What has come over these guys to fill their hearts with hatred?
It's a sad fact that elderly people living alone in houses are often targeted by burglars. This became noticeable about ten years or so ago, I'd say. It's a factor that's made many older folks sell and move into condos for safety. An old couple across the street where we once lived underwent physical mistreatment as they helplessly watched two burglars ransack their home. A young man and his friend in the house next door saw the whole thing through a window and were waiting outside and held the thieves by force till the cops arrived. And sometimes, alarms aren't enough. Burglars heaved a large rock through the picture view window of a local doctor's residence on a workday and grabbed their stash and fled as the alarm kept sounding.
ReplyDeleteWould you write your first name for me, please so I know who I'm talking to.
DeleteB...e
DeleteThank you. :-)
DeleteMy son had a business associate die recently. She was not found for ten days, even though she had two grown children and an estranged husband. We see police and fire and ambulances go up and down our rural roads on occasion and never know who they are rescuing or "if" they are rescuing and our community is so small we don't have a newspaper. Why don't we know all of our neighbors better?
ReplyDeleteHere the police post a "blotter" listing the stops they have made in the various neighborhoods. We live near a bus line so there's always a lot of activity listed.
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