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October 21, 2019

PERSON (FMF31 2019 Day 21)

I am participating in 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes 2019 (all of my submissions can be found here).

Today’s prompt is: PERSON

I was surprised to see one person mentioned during yesterday’s “in memoriam” moment at the conference I’m attending.

This is my first time at this conference, and I just completed a full year editing the newsletter for this group in September, so there are many things I’m still processing about an annual cycle. Being able to attend their conference makes a big difference in putting the pieces together and understanding how the people who (hopefully!) read the newsletter view their work.

Last year, a California city manager went missing. It was quite a mystery. We covered some of the logistics of that city council’s management of his absence — someone had to do his job in the interim. There was an investigation to be conducted and a reward to be offered.

Ultimately, when he was found deceased, I decided not to run that in the newsletter (rightly or wrongly).

Throughout the weeks between his disappearance and the discovery that he had died (he was found in his city vehicle, submerged in a lake), there were quite a few articles and there was a bit of conjecture about why he had disappeared. Was it on purpose? Was it a sudden medical issue?

Being me, I thought about this situation A LOT.

***end of five minutes***

What I didn’t know was that his peers would have an “in memoriam” segment at their conference. That his name would be among those lost this year. No asterisk, no questions. Just respect.

I appreciate being able to spend time with these people who (hopefully) read the newsletter I help produce.

And I appreciate the dignity accorded to John Wooner, former city manager of McFarland, Calif.

31 Days of Five-Minute Free Writes
Paula Kiger
Paula Kiger

Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Previous Post: « TELL (FMF31 2019 Day 20)
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carol Cassara (@ccassara) says

    October 21, 2019 at 9:54 am

    This must have been a different preoccupation for a meeting.

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger says

      October 21, 2019 at 10:30 pm

      Well, yes, but I may not have explained it well. It was a very small part of a much longer segment — just a few moments. It’s just that — i thought about Wooner throughout the whole situation — his disappearance, the reward, the appointment of an interim, the grieving his loss, the rumors. It’s just reassuring that in the end he had the same status as everyone else who had passed away — gone, respected, missed.

      Reply
  2. Haralee says

    October 21, 2019 at 11:11 am

    I like the no special comments, just passed away!

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger says

      October 21, 2019 at 10:31 pm

      That’s sort of how we all end up, right? No matter how complicated, anticipated or surprising. We are gone. Maybe there’s a message there.

      Reply
  3. Rena McDaniel says

    October 21, 2019 at 12:29 pm

    That must have been terrifying for his friends and family.

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger says

      October 21, 2019 at 10:32 pm

      I agree. There’s a GoFundMe — not sharing b/c I expect people to give, but b/c the writeup gives insight. https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-wooner-family

      Reply
  4. Tara says

    October 21, 2019 at 10:24 pm

    Sorry I’ve been busy. Finally getting caught up.

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger says

      October 21, 2019 at 10:33 pm

      Don’t apologize!

      Reply
  5. Annette Vellenga (@athomepets) says

    October 21, 2019 at 11:55 pm

    hmm.. person… given quiet respect. Good way to end yes?

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger says

      October 22, 2019 at 12:23 am

      I think it was the perfect honor. No questions asked, due respect given.

      Reply
  6. janeanedavis says

    October 22, 2019 at 8:11 am

    It is such a horrible thing when a person disappears and no one knows why. It is hard on the family and friends. The speculation can be so hurtful. I am glad he was found because the mystery hurts in a way that loss does not.

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger says

      October 22, 2019 at 8:15 am

      Yes, yes, yes Jane. Exactly this. I hope his family finds some small peace of mind going forward.

      Reply

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