Sitting at a pub in the early afternoon, swilling beers and waiting for a Yankees game to start — contemplating once again which is more desirable: quality of life or quantity.
Trying to take my mind off the death of the nice man who lived downstairs from me. We were not friends but he was nice neighbor with whom I had several pleasant hallway conversations. In fact I talked to him just last week. I was showing off my faboo new MBT shoes, telling him that “I got these fancy new shoes.” He acted suitably impressed and made a joke. I did not hear what he said but I laughed anyway, sensing that movement in the sound of his voice from normal conversation to inevitable laughter. He said something like “You look like you’re ready to rock and roll,” though I know that is not exactly what he said. Later — without dwelling on the matter — I chided myself for not asking him to repeat himself. I find it hard to do ask someone to repeat themself when doing so would interrupt a good hearty laugh.
Part of the reason I left my apartment was because the smell was pretty bad. He had probably been in there about a week. But really the smell was not that bad.
I overheard the police officer tell someone through his walkie-talkie that the man was flat on his face, that he maybe had a sister somewhere in Maine. He lived alone. It was Tom, the owner of the building, who called the police after noticing that stench and entering the apartment after not hearing from or seeing the man for many days. I saw the fire truck and ambulance and cop cars arrive, reprising the day a year or so ago when a similar parade showed up to take away the elderly man who died at 80. I saw the same sad procession of emergency personnel today and kind of assumed they were there for the other elderly man who lives upstairs. So I was shocked to go downstairs and see that downstairs apartment door open. Tom was standing nearby and told about the discovery, adding that the fellow was only 56.
Anyway… No need to dwell on this for too long. It is a reminder that one second you can be walking around, talking and joking with neighbors, then at some moment — at one particular second which you will see and feel but never remember — you fall flat dead on your face and your earthly vessel waits to be discovered.
