Loss of a friend

[JaniceB]

My husband and I had a painful loss this week. A man that hubby had gone to high school with died at the age of 53.

It was a sad way to die. His name was Ed and he was an icon around here in the Seattle area. He was handicapped mentally but not bad. Probably cerebral palsy but I don't know. His folks sent him to Christian school to keep kids from picking on him too much but they did anyhow. My husband stopped some of it at the school they attended.

Ed loved to play the tuba. After high school he played in a local symphony but he was really too much of a free spirit for that so he started playing on the streets outside events like football games, etc. We'd see him and he'd insist on giving me a big hug--sometimes too big and I'd have to use my elbows and remind him that my husband was watching. Everyone knew him and they called him "Tuba Man."

I work downtown and would often see him at lunch time walking around in one of his goofy hats. It got to where I kind of expected to see him when I was in certain parts of the city.

On Oct 25 he was standing at a bus stop and a group of 15-year-olds beat him up. He died about a week and a half later of his injuries. Several of the boys have been arrested and are being charged with murder I believe.

Of course we miss him but it wasn't like he was a really, really close friend so I'm surprised at how much grief I'm feeling. Yes, I'm mad that the kids beat him up but it seems like that's the major theme around here. I'm sure I'll get really mad about that later but right now I'm just feeling sad and scared.

I see and even talk with a lot of the street people as I make my way to and from work. The guy who sells the street newspapers, the old homeless guy that sits under a statue everyday. I see them now and think of Ed and worry that this person will get mugged too. I see handicapped people and fear for them too.

One of the things that really keeps coming back to me was the statement his brother made about Ed being afraid to leave his room after the attack. Sure, I'd feel the same way but his saying it gave flesh to what I wasn't really thinking about.

I was doing okay this morning. I was on my computer looking at this site and kind of watching the news on TV. Then they had a spot about Ed to say goodbye to our local icon.

We loved you Ed, and still do. I'll get that hug when I see you again in a better place and won't use my elbows on you this time.