It was such a beautiful day today. The sun shone warmly on our faces, making it impossible not to smile.
On our way out the door to meet new friends for dinner, our elderly neighbor VM was being escorted home by strangers. She has the best luck, I think. Nice people always seem to help her home.
LOM, another neighbor and I helped inch VM down the entry steps, into the elevator and into VMs apartment at the end of a long cooridor. I think, perhaps, she has lived in this unit for 40 years.
We left her on her couch, offering our phone numbers. The independent woman refused us. Yet when I looked into her eyes I saw such vulnerability. I was very moved by this.
Only a short time ago, as LOM and I were on our way to Cassava Lounge for our daily ration of tea and free internet, we saw a police officer at her door and decided we needed to investigate.
VMs nephew had called her but received no answer. He then called the police to check on her. The officer knocked on the door and listened for any kind of movement or response. Well, at least that's what I was listening for.
...Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse...
We told him of the evenings earlier events, all that we knew of VM (which isn't a whole lot), and that there was no way she had enough strength to leave her unit alone again on this very day.
LOM and I went back to our apartment to search our condo records for information to see if we could find someone who might have a key to the unit so the officer wouldn't have to call the fire department to break down the door.
LOM, a trustee of the building, called the management emergency number to see if the company had a key to the unit. By the time they returned the call VM would have definately been dead... if she had been home.
The officer was able to get the door open... with a credit card. Glad to know VMs unit is a fortress of safety. I acted as his witness as we entered and searched the place for VM. She was nowhere to be found, thankfully. Of course, I'm assuming someone or some agency came to take her to the hospital for care and that she survived.
previously:
weather or not - 2006-03-07
My Flight - 2006-03-02
poetree in motion - 2006-02-28
ultimate personality test - 2006-02-25
limerick e-trip - 2006-02-22