Last night, my condo building was swarming with police.
A police officer greeted me on the front stairs. A unit owner on the second floor was reported missing by her adult daughter. The officer was asking when we last saw her, trying to glean information that she may have dementia. After all, it's legal for an adult to go off by herself and not tell anyone, so the police tend not to get involved for at least 24 hours. What the cop was trying to establish was that this particular lady had dementia, as her daughter claimed. If she had a health problem that jeopardized her safety, the police could start looking for her. The whole thing was very sad.
Then, after I fed my cats, I heard a terrible commotion in the hall. Police were banging on Pervy Walt's door. Again. The same thing happened on New Year's Day. It went on for quite a while. Then I heard the sound of electric tools. Paramedics came rushing off the elevator. After the noise died down, I checked and the hall was filled with wood and debris. The police had sawed a hole in door and removed the lock. They took Walt away. Whether to the hospital or the morgue, I don't know.
It was all very scary. No one likes to see police cars in front of her home. Being questioned by a cop, even informally, is intimidating. The noise was disruptive. And it stirred up all those fears I have about my own vulnerability as I age.
These are the thoughts and observations of me — a woman of a certain age. (Oh, my, God, I'm 65!) I'm single. I'm successful enough (independent, self supporting). I live just outside Chicago, the best city in the world. I'm an aunt and a friend. I feel that voices like mine are rather underrepresented online or in print. So here I am. If my musings resonate with you, please visit my blog again sometime.
That sounds so scary! Hopefully everyone is okay. I'm glad you are.
ReplyDeleteI hope Pervy Walt won't be able to live on his own anymore.
ReplyDeleteFollowed your link here. I'm with Kwizgiver. I hope weirdly wired Walt will not be able to live on his own again. And I'm sad for your other neighbor, who is still missing. Hope she's found soon.
ReplyDeleteI'd be shaken by those things, too. It's so sad when we are reminded that aging is hard and scary and the fear rises up that one day that will be us. Sadness with a bit of fear is not a pleasant way to be. Keep us posted if you find anything out.
ReplyDelete