Braced for Impact
I wonder what, if anything, Ningnong the Elephant felt when he saved a little girl during the great tsunami?
I’ve been a beefy shoulder in a tsunami of drama.
I learned Saturday that Mary, a friend of mine, died Friday night, 02 January 2009, at 2233 (10:33PM), while I was still in Massachusetts. Mary died at work, in John the manager’s arms, not in the hospital as stated in the newspaper.
I know John, and he’s a good man. He’s shaken up.
Mary was fine, puttering around, talking to people, then suddenly keeled over behind the bar. She was 34 years old, with a husband and a five years old son, Jimmy, at home. Tiffany and Melissa where there too, and are still freaked out. The autopsy was inconclusive: Mary did not suffer an aneurysm, heart attack, or stroke.
Mary had a lot of friends, many of us also friends with Becky, whom we lost last year. Becky, whose job Mary took, was only 36 when she died.
I listened to Joe, the surviving bartender, mostly because he needed someone to hear him talk. Joe’s wife left him last summer for some jackass. Joe rebuilt his life without her, the jackass dumped Joe’s ex, and now she wants back. Joe just got his driver’s license back too. He’d lost it on a DUI when he first learned his wife was cheating. I gave him rides home sometimes when we were out late. His other friends pitched in too. Joe has a nice place now for his children and him. I don’t know if wifey poo is getting back in.
Natalie at the Broadway Deli filled me in on what she knew of Mary’s death. Jessica listened in, as she knew Mary too. When we mentioned Becky’s death last year this was news to Jessica. These two had been friends who fell out of touch. Jessica was getting married and expecting her first - Ethan - when Becky died. Jessica was wondering why she hadn’t heard from Becky. I smoothed the harsh double-whammy jolt as best I could.
Joyce, the lady who washes and folds my laundry, knew Mary too. More specifically Joyce knows Mary’s parents. Mary’s death is hard on them.
For the last few days I’ve been mostly listening to our friends: Nick, and Rob, Carla and Kristine, and Deb, Nikki and Christine talk.
Tonight was Tiffany’s first night back since Mary’s death. I gave her a big hug, and listened to her story. Paige, who means well but sometimes needs extra attention, gave me a wet-Willy.
I can be strong and calm and caring. But I think of Ningnong and the tsunami.
I’m an iconoclast and an atheist.
Theist have been brainwashed to attack me as an apostate, blasphemer, and a heretic. I bring it on myself, they say - which is no excuse at all really. I can take the violence, the threats, and the insults; my point is I shouldn’t have to. All theists do when they attack me is to demonstrate what they really are, and it’s nothing I’d be proud of.
Out of a crowd of people I’m the one strangers will approach for help: directions here and there, a hand with something heavy, an escort through some scary place. I've returned wayward children, aid the injured at accidents, and let other drivers into traffic when no one else will.
I try to be good towards my friends too. Right now they need me strong, and calm, and caring. Thus I will be.
I’ve been a beefy shoulder in a tsunami of drama.
I learned Saturday that Mary, a friend of mine, died Friday night, 02 January 2009, at 2233 (10:33PM), while I was still in Massachusetts. Mary died at work, in John the manager’s arms, not in the hospital as stated in the newspaper.
I know John, and he’s a good man. He’s shaken up.
Mary was fine, puttering around, talking to people, then suddenly keeled over behind the bar. She was 34 years old, with a husband and a five years old son, Jimmy, at home. Tiffany and Melissa where there too, and are still freaked out. The autopsy was inconclusive: Mary did not suffer an aneurysm, heart attack, or stroke.
Mary had a lot of friends, many of us also friends with Becky, whom we lost last year. Becky, whose job Mary took, was only 36 when she died.
I listened to Joe, the surviving bartender, mostly because he needed someone to hear him talk. Joe’s wife left him last summer for some jackass. Joe rebuilt his life without her, the jackass dumped Joe’s ex, and now she wants back. Joe just got his driver’s license back too. He’d lost it on a DUI when he first learned his wife was cheating. I gave him rides home sometimes when we were out late. His other friends pitched in too. Joe has a nice place now for his children and him. I don’t know if wifey poo is getting back in.
Natalie at the Broadway Deli filled me in on what she knew of Mary’s death. Jessica listened in, as she knew Mary too. When we mentioned Becky’s death last year this was news to Jessica. These two had been friends who fell out of touch. Jessica was getting married and expecting her first - Ethan - when Becky died. Jessica was wondering why she hadn’t heard from Becky. I smoothed the harsh double-whammy jolt as best I could.
Joyce, the lady who washes and folds my laundry, knew Mary too. More specifically Joyce knows Mary’s parents. Mary’s death is hard on them.
For the last few days I’ve been mostly listening to our friends: Nick, and Rob, Carla and Kristine, and Deb, Nikki and Christine talk.
Tonight was Tiffany’s first night back since Mary’s death. I gave her a big hug, and listened to her story. Paige, who means well but sometimes needs extra attention, gave me a wet-Willy.
I can be strong and calm and caring. But I think of Ningnong and the tsunami.
I’m an iconoclast and an atheist.
Theist have been brainwashed to attack me as an apostate, blasphemer, and a heretic. I bring it on myself, they say - which is no excuse at all really. I can take the violence, the threats, and the insults; my point is I shouldn’t have to. All theists do when they attack me is to demonstrate what they really are, and it’s nothing I’d be proud of.
Out of a crowd of people I’m the one strangers will approach for help: directions here and there, a hand with something heavy, an escort through some scary place. I've returned wayward children, aid the injured at accidents, and let other drivers into traffic when no one else will.
I try to be good towards my friends too. Right now they need me strong, and calm, and caring. Thus I will be.