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.
Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
This must have been a different preoccupation for a meeting.
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.
I like the no special comments, just passed away!
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.
That must have been terrifying for his friends and family.
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
Sorry I’ve been busy. Finally getting caught up.
Don’t apologize!
hmm.. person… given quiet respect. Good way to end yes?
I think it was the perfect honor. No questions asked, due respect given.
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.
Yes, yes, yes Jane. Exactly this. I hope his family finds some small peace of mind going forward.