This isn't political, it's not about health care. I just wanted to write about what happened today on my dead end street. I've written my share of politically based diaries so I figure I deserve it.
She was in her sixties and at home. I knew she wasn't doing well, she had been on oxygen for many months. I'm not sure exactly what her health issues were, I'm not the prying type. But I am a good neighbor, one who gladly gives you that can of olives you need for your burritos or helps you unload the couch from your truck.
I've lived next door to them at the end of the dead end street for almost 16 years. She was a dorm counselor at the deaf school my son attended. They have four kids and one grandchild. Both have been retired for about ten years.
The last few days I noticed a flurry of activity at their house. Family members coming and going morning, noon and night. I figured this was probably it. Today the same cars were outside the house. I was out working in the yard when a couple other vehicles showed up. A black truck and a minivan. I hadn't seen them before and assumed they were family friends or relatives I hadn't met.
I was putting in a front fence in my yard, digging some post holes. Then the two men opened the back of the minivan and pulled out a stretcher. At that point, I'm not sure what is going on, maybe they were taking her to a hospice or hospital. I stopped digging and went inside for awhile, just thinking. Then I went back outside and resumed digging.
I'm standing out in the street and the door to their house opens and the two men wheel out the stretcher. Her body was completely covered. Her husband, my neighbor, was standing in the doorway watching them load her into the minivan. I was directly in his line of sight not knowing what to do. I put my hand over my heart and bowed my head. The minivan and black truck left and he went back inside.
I went back inside my house and shed some tears while lingering near the open front door. I noticed one of their daughters, the one I know the best, getting something from her car. I walked outside and just started walking towards her, not saying anything, motioning with my hands to come and hug. She was obviously very upset, long term red eyes and face. I just hugged her and said I'm sorry. She said it happened so fast the last three days. She seemed to be doing better than everything just went downhill. I could only tell her to tell everyone I was thinking about them. She asked me to look after her Dad, he wasn't taking it well. I assured her I would.
I went back in the house and about the only thing I could think of doing was to write this. Digging posts holes right now while their entire family is 100 feet away, grieving that their Mommy, Grandma, and Wife is now gone, seems too trivial.
I'm not naive, I said goodbye to my Mother when I was only 18, and my grandfather and grandmother even before that. I've bid friends farewell who died too young from accidents or disease. Death is life. But watching something like this play out was very sobering to me. Thanks for listening.