h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was going to write something tonight about how much I'm fretting about the real estate situation and how stressful it is trying to buy a house for the first time, but I've just had a horrid dose of perspective.

About 12-15 years ago in Adelaide I w*rked with a woman called June. She was one of the brains of the outfit, calm and practical, well worth knowing. She retired a few years ago and, after a fight with cancer, was making the most of whatever time was available to her. Unfortunately she's fallen victim to a freak accident. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/woman-killed-by-reversing-caravan-at-goolwa/story-e6frea6u-1225864476381

I think I'm in shock. Some people you expect to go down fighting, not in a freak event like this. Friend M called to tell me before I saw June's name on a newspaper site... M is definitely in shock. She was very close to June.

I was having a bit of a drink to help me calm down after an afternoon of solicitors and real estate agents; now I'm having a bit of a drink for quite another reason. I feel completely sober, though.

What a dreadful shock! There is really nothing I can say. I usually feel that things are 'meant to be' but in this case I don't. The list of similar accidents is scary. Shows how very careful people need to be, just doing ordinary things.

Puts house hunting etc. in perspective a bit though

Websailor

That's awful, I'm sorry for your loss mate.

Sounds like you need/deserve the drinks.

Thanks, both of you.

I'm a bit case-hardened, reading coronial reports as part of my job, but those reports relate to w*rkplace incidents. It's awful to think that this sort of thing can happen at home too. I mean, the awfulness is equal, but one just assumes that home is a safe place.

How horrible. I cannot begin to imagine how the husband feels.

Ivan. Terrible to hear about friend's sudden deaths.

I can't even begin to imagine how he'd feel. It's just too horrible to think about.

This alcohol isn't doing its job. I should be feeling a bit numb by now, but I still feel completely sober. I'll finish this drink, give up and go to bed and hope to sleep...

what a dreadful horrible accident. i feel for the husband, you and everyone who knew her

Not really much I can say, other than what's been said already. That's dreadful... My thoughts and sympathy go out to all concerned...

(and a for Ivan)

oh dear, what a horrible shock

my sympathies for both you and the husband

That's shocking and horrible. The couple where I go clean their house once a week had something similar happen - but the end was not fatal, thank goodness.

Ouch - horrible way to die and horrible way of accidentally taking another person's life.

My condolences

Almost twenty years ago I wrote a report concerning work related fatalities. One unusual death was at a zoo where a scared elephant squeezed an animal care taker to a concrete wall. Being btween a wall and a heavy object is no good...

I've read a lot of w*rkplace fatality reports, and they are all horrible, but to have something like this happen at home - well I'm still struggling to comprehend it. I've been teetering on the verge of tears all day. I feel so very sorry for him, while I raise a glass to her memory.

My condolences as well. How very sad.

I found this by a roundabout way, Ivan - may I add you to my friends list please?

How are you feeling about this now? Do you know the husband well enough to call him and offer your condolences?

Reading that report, I felt quite gutted, knowing that she has friends and loved ones, as do all victims of such unfortunate accidents. Who says globalisation and the internet are bad things? - even though most of us are on the other side of the planet, a trouble shared is still a trouble halved.

for June.

I'd be honoured to be on your friends list, TC. I shall reciprocate.

I think I saw June's husband once, many years ago, but I've never officially met him. I won't contact him, but I have passed on my condolences through my friend M who does know him.

For me, the shock has gone, but I'm still struggling with the injustice of it all. Life is staggeringly unfair. This is by no means an original thought...

RIP June

I suppose the only slight consolation is it must have been very quick...the poor husband though will be going through hell.

zdt

Yes Terri, he is indeed going through hell. I'm told that he's been looked after by his daughter as much as possible, and that he copes as long as someone's there, but he was left alone for an hour the other day and was a complete mess when found. It's hard to say how things will go with him.

In other news, there will be a memorial service at some point but no actual funeral. June's Will states that she didn't want one. In a way, this is a good thing; it's uncertain when the Coroner will release her body. When that happens there will be a private cremation.

Just when I think the shock's worn off, my mask slips again.