I never thought I’d post one of these MPSIMS “life-updates,” but WTH, it’s been a really bad week.
My father passed away last Monday and I was in Louisiana all last week. He had been in intensive care for 3 weeks (I had made an earlier trip when he first went in). For a while we thought he was going to get better, but it just didn’t happen.
He had been ignoring his health and his diabetes (Type II from obesity); I guess just hoping it would go away. Whatever, he wasn’t able to come to conscious terms with what he was doing to himself. His body finally said “no more” and systems started shutting down. The most ironic thing was that he was a doctor, and never would have treated a patient the way he treated himself. Sad and maddening all at the same time. He was only 57, and a good friend.
The funeral was a very nice service, and I got to give the eulogy. I was proud to have the chance to honor my dad in that way. There were a whole bunch of people there. He was living in a smallish town/city, and was active in the church, community orchestra, and of course with all the people he had treated. He was in charge of the portion of the State hospital concerned with mental patients–especially those who couldn’t afford a private hospital. They knew how kind and caring he was to forgo the big bucks to look after them when nobody else would. So many of them came up to me after the service and told me how much my father meant to them, and how affecting my words were. That really meant a lot to me.
Then, to top it off, the first thing I noticed when returning to Maryland is that my apartment had been burglarized while I was gone. The bastards got my VCR, my laundry quarters, and the diamond engagement ring I had for my girlfriend. I will get some re-imbursement through my renters insurance; but the stone in the ring was my grandmother’s from her engagement over 60 years ago. I hate to lose that little piece of my family, especially on top of having lost a much larger piece.
I also found out yesterday that the bastards had stolen my Government issue credit card. They were able to rack up $1,900 in charges in the two days before the credit card company caught on and voided the card. They really went to town. Over $600 at Foot Locker, $300 at The Athlete’s Foot, lots more at grocery stores, drug stores, gas stations, and restaurants.
I am really, really hoping that somewhere they are on surveillance cameras, and the detective assigned to the case can nail them. I want to be around when the judge sends them away. I know I am living in a pipe dream in thinking they will be caught, but maybe it will happen. Maybe stealing a government credit card will put them under Federal mandatory sentencing guidelines. Actually, what I’m really hoping is that the police will leave them handcuffed in the interrogation room for 30 minutes or so and look the other way while I have my turn with them. I’d guarantee the’d regret they ever saw me, my apartment, of the stuff I had. The’d know they picked the wrong person at the wrong time to steal from. They’d only thought they knew what pain was up until that point. (I know, I know, but I can fantasize, right?)
Anyway, if you’ve read through all that, I commend you for your patience.
