A Sad And Lonely End

benchjockey · 09/18/2018 06:50 AM

Two guys carried the man out on a stretcher last night. Someone had thoughtfully draped an American flag over his body because it was thought that the man was a Vietnam vet. He had been dead for weeks, lying undiscovered until a neighbor realized he hadn't seen the man for about a month.

I don't get around very well these days, but if I had known he was friendless I would have made an effort to meet with him, have a chat. Talk about sports, or life, or anything. I would have offered him a cigar. Nobody should die so friendless that his body lies decomposing, rotting, until being discovered.

Brlesq · 09/18/2018 10:33 AM

Sorry to hear about that, Barry. Makes one reflect a bit.

Chefjohn · 09/18/2018 10:37 AM

That is heartbreaking to hear. It truly does cause one to reflect and think about the people in our community.

tvolball · 09/19/2018 10:39 AM

Being a firefighter, we run calls like this and have to help the coroner load the body. It's not just limited to lonely people with no family or friends. I have run calls where the neighbor hadn't seen the person in a few days or weeks and calls the sheriff office for a welfare check and they find them like that. The really sad part of it is that this person had family that lived in the same county. I'm not talking a day or two with no contact from the son or daughter, but some of these people have been dead so long they are almost unrecognizable.

ninfiction · 09/19/2018 11:10 AM

I always joke with my wife that I want to go out like that, all alone out in a cabin in the woods. Sometimes people make that choice, sometimes they are forgotten.

nirab · 09/19/2018 03:15 PM

kindness, compassion, joy, inclusiveness...the elements of true love...mindfulness helps with practice of these actions...your story brought about sadness, but your compassion brings joy...thank you...

A Sad And Lonely End

benchjockey

Brlesq

Chefjohn

tvolball

ninfiction

nirab