tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post220283323969631128..comments2023-07-18T07:27:08.516+00:00Comments on Siren Voices: over westSpence Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-8263310839604072512012-08-10T07:15:34.894+00:002012-08-10T07:15:34.894+00:00Unbearably :(
Such a devastating time for the fami...Unbearably :(<br />Such a devastating time for the family.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-64150224351191755452012-08-09T20:51:12.777+00:002012-08-09T20:51:12.777+00:00:(:(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-13764132380978739202012-07-12T20:16:05.258+00:002012-07-12T20:16:05.258+00:00Hi MD
Yeah - I think he was pretty shaken up. Prob...Hi MD<br />Yeah - I think he was pretty shaken up. Prob his first time in a scene like that. I do take some solace from the fact that we're there to help. I mean - someone's got to do it, and it may as well be us! I just hope I can go a bit longer without having to do it again!<br />Cheers for the comment, MD.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-131137111022900742012-07-12T14:35:34.925+00:002012-07-12T14:35:34.925+00:00It sounds like the new police officer was pretty s...It sounds like the new police officer was pretty shaken up too given that 'goldfish memory' thing he had with the sugar. He'll learn, I guess - they have to give 'death messages' all the time.<br /><br />What an awful thing. Kate in particular must feel like the universe is just taking the wee.<br /><br />Can you take solace in the fact that you and the cops are there to help people with this stuff? It would be so much worse if you weren't.MetalDoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01539730700058648848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-77925539898448708532012-07-12T12:01:15.141+00:002012-07-12T12:01:15.141+00:00Hi Mike
Yep - could've done with some of that....Hi Mike<br />Yep - could've done with some of that. Mind you, I think gallows humour is one of the most difficult thing to write about. At the time it acts as an important safety valve, something to keep you sane, but written up later it can sound pretty heartless. Anyway, in this case I don't think we said much. We were just too shell-shocked - esp. me!Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-26666563732748837702012-07-12T11:25:31.340+00:002012-07-12T11:25:31.340+00:00Your writing conveyed the misery of the situation ...Your writing conveyed the misery of the situation too well Spence. Gallows humour needed to soften the dreadfulness of it all.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-69725037491845101312012-07-12T08:55:38.374+00:002012-07-12T08:55:38.374+00:00Thanks Nari
To be honest, I was hoping to get away...Thanks Nari<br />To be honest, I was hoping to get away from the scene before the relatives got there. I know that's probably awful to admit, but it was only recently I had to break bad news and that was traumatic, too. When Kate showed up I just had to go ahead and do it - desperately sad for the family, esp. considering everything else that was going on. Def one of the worst aspects of this job!<br /><br />Hi Invictus<br />I think what struck me were the domestic details. We've got a calendar exactly like that at home! All those little things made me even more aware of the tragedy - a person dying unexpectedly, right in the middle of everything, the daily business of family life. Absolutely appalling. <br /><br />Hey Tpals<br />I certainly felt like crying at the time, but for some reason I managed not to. I don't think it would've mattered if I had. It's just the way it went. I was pretty shaken by the whole experience, though. I hope I don't have too many of those to do (despite the fact that I've had a couple in as many weeks...)<br /><br />Hi Jacks<br />Stock phrases do help - esp. if they're sincerely meant. I'd have done anything for her not to have had to come up to that door and be met by me with that news! Dreadful. <br /><br />The other thing is that you have to give it to them straight, no euphemisms or anything that could be misinterpreted. It's amazing how even using the stark words 'died' and 'dead' still get challenged - but then, it's not so much the word, I suppose, as the enormity of the fact that they're having to face. <br /><br />I'd better put out a cheerful post in short order!!<br /><br />:/Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-25812923078674260502012-07-12T06:31:59.936+00:002012-07-12T06:31:59.936+00:00A sad tale Spence.So difficult to know what to say...A sad tale Spence.So difficult to know what to say to someone in those circumstances.I guess you all go into an auto-pilot of stock phrases to try to keep yourselves sane.jacksofbuxtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420847156401984373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-29032024317211220662012-07-11T22:50:20.824+00:002012-07-11T22:50:20.824+00:00That was so sad I can't help crying.
It must...That was so sad I can't help crying. <br /><br />It must be a gift that enables you to be sympathetic but not overwhelmed by the emotions all around.tpalshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05646231041413714929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-45842087477132875512012-07-11T22:07:17.001+00:002012-07-11T22:07:17.001+00:00So sad... and so sudden. The image of the "bu...So sad... and so sudden. The image of the "busy family calendar" really strikes me, like even Emma wasn't expecting to die. Very solemn indeed.Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12407466438773284596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-71360214183975450552012-07-11T21:42:19.870+00:002012-07-11T21:42:19.870+00:00You really relayed the confusion and disbelief of ...You really relayed the confusion and disbelief of an unexpected death so clearly. It is so difficult to grasp that an intregal person in your life could leave when there is so much left undone...unsaid. From Kate, to her partner, to the new police officer: everything unclear. Your experience shows through in this situation, with your calm clear reponses. And at the end, the storm hitting...very apropos.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08810246558284580306noreply@blogger.com