a eulogy of sorts

[sistawendy]

The fellow in the studio next to my apartment, a man in his sixties named Brian with a limp, a speech impediment, and who knows how many serious health problems, passed away on Friday. I saw a fireman talking to someone who may have been from the property management company, and I didn't think to ask about it later. (I did ask at the time if it was OK for me to go in because, you know, firemen.) I found this out this morning from talking to my neighbor E because I wanted to tell him when I'd be gone.

Brian was a good guy. I got a quarter stuck in the dryer's coin acceptor a couple of months ago, and after solemnly swearing me to secrecy, he got a 2X4 and a hammer and banged it out. Brian doesn't need to worry about getting in trouble for that anymore.

Brian always had a joke for me. It always took me a while to figure out what he was saying, but he was definitely sharp.

Brian's father Paul is the guy who actually makes sure things get done around this building, and I have to say he does a terrific job of it. Yes, if Brian was in his sixties that means Paul is in his eighties, but Paul has always been hale & hearty. Since Paul is over here working pretty often and Brian usually helped him, it's quite possible that he discovered what had happened to his own son. Poor man. I should extend my condolences.

Comments

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, that's awful. Poor guy, and his poor father!

But at the same time, my next-door neighbor is spending increasing amounts of time worrying about what's going to happen to his now forty year old child who has never learned to talk and can only walk short distances, once my neighbor and his ex-wife have passed away. I'm sure Paul is crushed, but he also no longer has that specific anxiety on his plate.

[ivy]

It gets us all in the end. It's kind of you to be nice to his father, though... I'm sure he appreciates it in his time of grief.