A quick blog/story about life, death, and the NHL playoffs.  A true story that happened to me the other night. 

"THE SCENE"...AND THE PLAYOFFS

“The Scene”…and the playoffs Saturday, May 31, 2014

For those of you that blew my phone up Thursday night following the New York Rangers awesome victory may have wondered for a split second why I didn’t respond. Here’s why… (sigh)

I live in a two level garden apartment building and my upstairs neighbor, I’m going to protect all names involved here, I’ll call him Edward, is a very nice man. A Vietnam Vet and Bronze Star recipient from a young age, retired at a young age, loves cooking for his fellow Vets at the VFW, and suffers from some physical ailments…bad knees, skin cancer that prevents him from going fishing which he so loved to do, breathing problems, and I’m sure other things, that I know prevents him from living the full life he wants to live. Edward’s health had begun to decline even further in recent months but still, in the past year or so, he’d force himself to go to the VFW if only for a little while. His ventures out of his apartment I noticed have become more and more infrequent. He’s never had any visitors and never once involved his fellow neighbors that live so close to him with his woes nor has he ever asked for help, or accept it if it was offered. That, right there, told me that he is a prideful and private man. I’ve always respected his space and have never bothered him. He’s always been pleasant to us neighbors, stops to chat for a minute if one of us is outside before he heads out. I’ve always been able to tell that his pleasantries were a front for the most part, and probably stops to chat because he feels he has to and is doing the neighborly thing. Whenever he and I cross paths, I make sure not to chat too long because I know he just wants to get where he’s going. Don’t we all?

Only Edward and I share the same security door – so when you walk through that security door from the outside of the building, my front door is on the inside and immediately to the right, and his front door is up at the top of the stairs. I always hear him come down the flight of stairs and sometimes, because of his knees, it sounds like a struggle because it’s a steep flight. He’s hard of hearing and would make quite the ruckus upstairs but I’ve never once complained to Property Management (“P.M.”) knowing that he’s probably having a hard time. Earlier this week, the ruckus ceased and I grew concerned. I inquired to the P.M. if there was an emergency contact on file that could be called to check on him. I didn’t get an immediate response but was informed by my neighbor next door, we’ll call her Lola, that the P.M. called the town Police as a precaution just in case. Turns out Edward was fine…didn’t look good and was white as snow, but, he was alive and communicating. Whew.

The next day, Thursday, I went out to dinner to catch up with one of my closest and dearest friends. We had a fantastic time and the three hours loitering in this restaurant just wasn’t enough time! I go home preparing to catch the last period of the NYR game. I park my car and notice Edward’s truck has been moved and I thought, “Oh good, he ventured out.” I was relieved. I walk up to the security door, put the key in, push, and boom, the door won’t open more than 2-3 inches. What’s blocking the door? I can’t see in. My heart starts pounding. Oh no. Don’t tell me. I shine a light from my phone into the door window (only the top portion of the door is glass) and my worst fear was confirmed…Edward was lying at the bottom of the stairs in front of my front door and obstructing the security door. I yell out to him a couple of times but no response. My hands begin to shake, my heart’s pounding, and in my jittery voice, I make the call. Within seconds, Police arrive. I’m waiting outside because I can’t get into my apartment. I’m trembling and feel horrible for Edward. The Officer and the Detective approach me and then quickly to the door. The mere sight of these men begins to calm me. I find it amazing how the human condition immediately takes hold and while I was alone with Edward, I felt responsible for him and protective of him. As soon as the Police surveyed “the scene”, I stood out of the way so that they can do their job. I calmed even more because professionals now took responsibility for Edward and relieved me of my duties. They confirmed…Edward was gone. What a shame. What a way to go. He died alone. How tragic. These were the recurring thoughts going through my mind.

They cleared just enough room for me to get into my apartment. I have a sliding glass door that leads out to my patio which is situated just feet away from the entrance security door. I immediately opened that up so that I can go back outside and assist in any way I can. I knew Lola next door was still awake and I messaged her with what was going on and kept her up to date in the hours to come. Ambulance was cancelled and now a next of kin needed to be contacted. Don’t believe Edward had any children, he wasn’t married, but I did know he had a sibling that I met briefly only once last year but didn’t know the name. Lot of help I was. Hell, I didn’t even know Edward’s last name!! I’m a sorry excuse for a neighbor. Anyway, the hallway where Edward was is very small so I advised the Officer and Detective that if they needed to open my front door to give them more room, to please do so and I’ll be fine. Guess they figured if I hadn’t freaked out and become hysterical by now, chances were good I wouldn’t going forward. Sadly, it’s not my first time at this sort of kind of rodeo. They make calls, get on the radio, and then went up to Edward’s apartment to try and locate a contact. I took this opportunity to change out of my work clothes and get comfy because I’m feeling this is going to be a long night. Other Police were showing up here and there, coming and going, but the original responding Officer and Detective were the ones that I looked to, as strange as this sounds, as a comfort. As long as I knew that those two men were there, I was okay.

I went into the kitchen and made a cup of tea. I stood there hearing the footsteps upstairs trying hard not to imagine the possible state of things up there because I’m sure it would make me want to run to a hotel. I look at the time, and my eyes quickly jump from side to side…I text my boyfriend, Keith, and ask him to text me the NY Ranger game score. Yes, I did that. Didn’t want to fuss searching online myself and was just easier for him to text me. Still 1-0 Rangers, eight minutes left in the third. The Detective comes down stairs, heads to his car, I go outside. The Detective comes back from his car and I ask how it’s going. He says they’re still trying to find a contact…a relative, a doctor, VFW, anyone, sadly they weren’t having much luck. The Detective goes back upstairs to continue the search. I don’t see any other Officers outside for now so I go back into my apartment. I’m walking in circles not knowing what to do with myself. Habit kicked in and I pick up the TV remote. “Put it down, you idiot!” is what I internally slap myself with. Can’t put on the TV with a dead man lying ten feet away…what the hell is wrong with me?! Jesus. Back to walking in circles. I thanked God that Hamish, my old cat, wasn’t still alive because mister curious himself would’ve reveled in and howled at the chance to sniff new stuff, even dead stuff. The men are still upstairs, still no other personnel outside. I can’t take it. F**k it - TV goes on, NBCSN – three minutes left, still 1-0 Rangers, they win this and they go to the Stanley Cup. My TV is situated against the same wall as my front door and I wanted to keep watch for any other Officers that may show up and wanted to be ready to help in any way that I could. With the sound off, I stand three feet from the big screen watching the last minute of the game. I look at the TV and as my eyes travel back to the open sliding glass door, they have to pass the two inch ajar’d front door, I see Edward, my eyes make it passed him to look outside, then my eyes pass back to the front door, Edward, then back to the Ranger game. I did this for the entire last minute of the game. The last minute is over, Rangers win. I look around quickly, no one’s watching, my arms go up with fists of victory and I’m screaming “YEAAAAHHHHH!!!!! YES!! YES!! YES!!!” but without making a single sound. Okay, TV off. Am I a horrible person? Um, yeah, probably. I looked up at the ceiling, rather than at the shell of Edward outside my front door and said, “I mean no disrespect, Edward. You were a sports fan so I know you understand – this is the playoffs.”

The Officer, the Detective and me are back to waiting outside. The Medical Examiner (M.E.) arrives, don’t remember what time, maybe 1 a.m., and he parks his vehicle down the street. The three of us all kind of ask among ourselves, “Why did he park so far away?” The young M.E. gets out and the dog in his vehicle begins to bark. Ah, that’s why. I thought, “Cadaver dog?” I didn’t want to sound like an idiot, so I didn’t ask that question out loud. The strong handshakes between the M.E. and my Police buds take place, they explain the situation to the M.E. and he starts to do his thing. He goes inside the hallway to meet Edward. I explain to the Officer and Detective that I considered becoming an M.E. long ago. They both said, “Ewww” in unison but then I, with animation, explained that when my cat bit me years ago and I looked closely at the deep wound, I passed out and knew a career in any medical field, for the living or dead, was not meant to be. They chuckled. The M.E. comes back outside, goes on to Lola’s patio and sets up his “kit”. I’m thinking Lola must be beside herself about now if she can see this. Out comes the large thermometer. Oooh! I’ve seen this on CSI!! He’s gonna check liver temp! ...is what’s going on in my mind. The M.E. goes back to Edward and closes the security door. The Officer and the Detective with the exact same slow rhythm, glide up to the door window to watch. My body motions forward as well because my curiosity was chomping at the bit because I wanted to see too! Oh, come on - tell me you’re shocked by this? I quickly realized I won’t sleep for a month if I witness this so I immediately back off. I look away from the door for a change of scenery. I wonder if the dog is okay and has to pee.

Fast forward yet another hour, it’s now about 2 a.m., the Officer had left, I’m outside chatting with the Detective and the Medical Examiner, Edward still hasn’t moved, obviously, my inside front door is now closed, and we’re waiting for the minivan to collect Edward. The Detective goes to his car for a moment so I dive head first asking the M.E. questions. How’d you get into this line of work? What’s with the dog? What’s Edward’s condition like? He was professional and honest and I learned a whole lot about death and the human body in less than 5 minutes. Incredible stuff, folks. Still, SO glad I didn’t take that career path. The minivan finally arrives. I ask the Detective softly, who now to me feels like an old friend that I’ve known for years, “Should I go inside?” He considerately and thoughtfully nodded yes. So off I went. I stood out of sight in a doorway in my apartment where I could see primarily only shadows. I heard the clanking of the wheeled stretcher, the rolling of the wheels coming up the walkway, then the men inside the hallway maneuvering in a small space, then…the zip of the infamous zipper. They wheeled Edward out to the minivan. As soon as I saw Edward being loaded, I proceeded to go back outside where I saw the Detective start to look for me. He told me they found a family contact and they have been notified. Thank God. I thanked the Detective with the utmost sincerity, he said, “Good night”, and he headed off to his car. As he started to walk away, I got a sinking feeling in my gut and almost didn’t want him to leave. I knew when I was alone in the seconds to come, the unsettling of the night’s happenings would commence. Everyone drove off. Quiet. Unsettled. I’m exhausted, I have to work tomorrow, and I can’t sleep. Finally about 4 a.m., my body finally rests for a little bit.

There are SO many moments and things that I left out from this night like the chop busting brotherly banter between the Officer and the Detective that had me in stitches, neighbors peering at the scene from a distance, etc. But all of the sights, thoughts, whether bad, ugly, funny, all of it, of that night will go through my mind for a while. Still, I’m glad I could be the one that Edward would be found by…despite not knowing him very well, and despite my cheering on the NYR while he lay dead in my sights outside my front door…I still cared. Thinking about all of that after the scene was cleared, I posed the question to myself, is it bad to embrace life and fun just hours after someone dies? Some may find it disrespectful but I’m willing to guarantee that when we get to wherever we do after this life, that we’re going to be told to lighten up.

RIP Edward - I like to think he made a beeline for a fishing pole when his spirit left the earth. And yes, I’m going to go there…go Rangers.