Just about all of what I write here is sweetness-and-light, no? Sorry, folks; this enchanted garden does have a Serpent; and it has reared its ugly head. Of course all of life – like all of the life inside of us – has a shadow side; it reminds us that we are not yet in eternal Light.
Yesterday afternoon, the knock on our front door introduced us to two deputies from the County Sheriff's office – never a good omen when you open the door and see the badges. They wanted to ask a few questions: (1) had we heard any gunshot sounds during the morning? and (2) had we heard any loud noises of argument or shouting? Negative answers on both counts. (Loud noises and gunshots? In this bucolic exurban Paradise?)
The brave and loyal officers would not tell me anything more. They asked if we know a couple who live in a ramshackle house halfway down our Hazel Brake hillside. At the mention of their names, I recognized them as the Bracken Brae residents who have been under the scrutiny of our neighbors, Ted and Teresa – who have made many unsuccessful attempts to get them to clean out the mess evident on their property, including old, dead cars and bicycles, a lot of trash, and (it is said) a nest of rodents that were beginning to roam farther afield. Finally, Teresa has been collecting signatures, ours included, with the intention to submit a petition to the county supervisors' office. ..... I said the truth, that we knew their names but had never met the couple. The men thanked us and departed.
After us, they went next door to talk to Peter, and later he told us that he tracked the officers down to the aforesaid property, where investigators had put up the well-recognized yellow tape lines; and he was informed that the man had just died of gunshot wounds to his head – probably self-inflicted, but evidence was still being gathered.
We prayed then, for God's mercy upon the poor guy. Having had two dear friends succumb to the horror and despair of suicide, we feel very deeply for its victims.
So, death has shadowed our beautiful forest; it should not be unexpected, for death is a part of life, as I've said. Another neighbor, old and sick, died before Christmas; that is a natural and inevitable occurrence. But violent and unnatural death is more of a shock.
It is a sad but salutary reminder to choose life, and live it to the full, every lovely day that we are given on this earth.
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11 comments:
Sorry to hear this, esp so close to the joy of holidays. The great wheel and all that. On the other hand, while the people in that house may have been less than savory, at least they have you as a neighbor, someone who will actually consider the death as a loss.
It may not seem like much, but I think for most people, knowing that that at least one person might mourn our passing is a blessing.
Sad story. Courageous of you to tell it so candidly and feelingly.
We love and admire both of you for your compassion--it is something you have imparted to all of us, too, I think.
Oh man, that's terrible ... those poor people!
Right, Jim; intimation of mortality. The only good outcome is that our realtor says the bank is going to clean the place out and sell it off, which should eliminate the critter nests down there ... one of the old beater cars had a tree growing up through its floor! (Nature always triumphs in the end.)
Man, James Ellroy meets Green Acres.
Sorry to hear about this - very shocking. the Bit that got me most actually was you opening the door to two policemen - for me that is like the late night phone call 'whats happened to someone in our family?'
Anyway, just because we're all fine, clearly that guys family are in grief tonight. So sorry to hear this.
Glad about the rats being shooed out before WE get over there, however.
xxx
Wow, you guys do have compassion.
We have screwball neighbors. As Chace would put it, "a family of mungbats."
Mimi doesn't worry about them, but I keep an eye out. I wish there was a way to avert such tragedies, but I always feel that if I offer a hand of compassion, there will be a machete to receive it.
I admire your attitude, you guys.
I hope you get some respite from the weirdness now.
Hoskeebo!
Brian
The thought that came to my mind when I read this: one of the main reasons you two left Santa Barbara was to get away from the seemingly endless parade of hearses that wind through your old mobile home park.. but I guess it just shows that you can't get away from death even deep in the woods.
.... right, Joe: or even deep in Marina, or Otego (hi, Foley!) .....
I thought you left the place in SB because you were going to die of boredom.
My most memorable late-night shock was when Frank called us in Germany and said, "Guess who died."
It turned out to be Stan Rogers, which was certainly sad ... but man, that has got to be the all-time *worst* conversation opener.
Yes, that was your brother, all right. It was right up there with "Are you sitting down?"
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