Showing posts with label "Before the Incident". Show all posts
Showing posts with label "Before the Incident". Show all posts

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Before the Incident: Shirley Stocksdale and the Sofabed

These days, there are many online articles about individuals meeting death in odd ways. The news items float by like terrible-yet-quickly-forgotten ghosts. But this 2001 newspaper article has haunted my thoughts for nine years:


There are many reasons why Ms. Stocksdale's final moments are so disturbing...

First, she was alone. No one was there to help or comfort her.


Secondly, she was physically unable to free herself. At 75, would our bodies be any stronger?



It's scary how a comfort-of-home (in this case, a sofabed) became a lethal trap.


Her phone was in view but beyond reach. Reminders of technology's limits are also unsettling.


Finally, I find it most disturbing that Ms. Stocksdale faced a slow, frightening and accidental death.


In the end, may our life be more memorable than our death. May our obituary skip the odd-news sites (or crafty blogs). And may our final passing be more comfortable than that of Shirley Stocksdale, pictured here, just moments before the incident:

Rest in peace, Ms. Stocksdale.

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