SadnessMay 12, 1997
St Kilda East.Ok, I'm tardy. I like that word. It isn't one that's used in Australia, so when I hear it said, usually by Americans, it sounds so intriguing. I guess it just means late.
Late to post an entry that is. I worked graveyard this weekend past, so I didn't have much time to post. I have no excuses for the past week. A boring life maybe?
Whilst working those dreaded night shifts, I thought of a few things I wanted to write about, and now I can only remember one of those things. I wanted to write about someone whom I knew who was murdered this past week. I knew her from high school, but less a friend of mine than someone I knew because we travelled to school each day on the same school bus. She was however, very good friends with my brother
I wanted, not to rant about the dangers of society, but to express my sadness at what happened. She was at home with her child (18 month old Jordan) when someone broke into her house, and beat her to death. The child was left unharmed, and by all accounts still asleep. It seems the intent of the break-in was robbery, but as an impoverished single mother she had nothing worthy of stealing, no money, no possessions, only her life.
She lived very close to where my parents live, in what is considered to be upper middle class, white bread suburbia. An annomaly I suppose, as she lived in a small, rundown, farmhouse that was the original house in the district, before all of its farmlands where broken up for sale to all the rich people. Her grandparents had owned the house and now her parents allowed her to live there rent free. My own parents house, not a minute away was unattended at the time, and would have been rich pickings for any robber.
I think about this type of crime, where you are not safe, even in your own home, and it scares me. I worry that it could happen to me, and that it would be the most horrific way to die, without motive, warning or any hope of a way out. To die alone, and helpless makes me shudder, and weep to think of what she must have gone through. To weep again at where Jordan will go from here.
The funeral was Friday, many people, most of whom I haven't seen since high school, turned out. It was a moving and touching service, and Jordan was there, safe in the arms of his grandparents. For now.".....You were very dear to the gods. So,
even now you have died, you have not lost your name,
but stay always in the sight of all mankind....."
The Odyssey of Homer
Book XXIV, 92-95
Later today I felt the need to post again, on a completely different topic.
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