She never turned up now i know why

[Accy cyclist]

I invited the elderly lady who i got my dog from to our house for Christmas Day. She was supposed to arrive at around 2pm but she didn't and as time passed and after i'd made 5 phone calls i began to think she'd either had a better offer,she was in hospital or even worse. She lives a good few miles from me i wasn't able to go round to knock on her door,but i drove there this morning only to find the blinds drawn,and after i'd knocked hard and loud for a few minutes i asked her neighbour if she's seen her. She told me that she hadn't seen her since Christmas Eve when she said she was happy to have been invited out as she didn't get out much. I went home pondered on what to do then phoned the police. They went round and after knocking for a while broke the lock and went in where they found the poor soul dead in bed! I'd only known here since January when i got chatting to her about her little dog and she told me that she wanted someone to look after him while she went in hospital for an operation. The short term arrangements became permanent as she couldn't look after him so we took him in,but i took him to see her every few weeks,leaving him with her for a few hours.
We became friends and now she's gone!

 

[colly]

That's very sad Accy but at least when she went she was looking forward to being with you on Christmas Day. You offered her help and friendship which is more than most would.

 

[smokeysmoo]

It sounds as though you certainly helped her in what turned out to be her final year, take solace in that and the thought that hopefully she passed away in her sleep, which after all is the best any of us can hope for.

R.I.P.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I hope when I reach my end that I find someone as kind as you accy. I reckon she went with a smile. RIP.

 

[Dangermouse]

Sad as others have said, at least the dog wasn't in the house when she passed away, could have been even more upsetting...........at least the little dog will be well cared for.

RIP Lady

 

[Accy cyclist]

She was 80 and had had 2 operations under general anesthetic on her shoulder,and laser surgery on her eyes this year which must have taken its toll. I'm glad i invited her though very sad she never made it. The little dog has been up and down whining for the last 3 days,some might be sceptical but i'm sure he senses something.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

...but i'm sure he senses something.

Animals are very "aware", but they do come to realise that things have changed. And then move on, mostly. Sometimes when they come from "loved for" families it takes longer than when they have been mis-treated or neglected.

 

[roadrash]

my faith in humanity has been restored, a sad tale though it is, well done accy cyclist ,you should be proud of yourself and what you brought to that lady.

 

[snorri]

A heartwarming thread despite the sadness, well done Accy cyclist.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I find it sad that she lived in sheltered accommodation yet no one thought it odd that her blinds had been drawn since what seems like Christmas Day to two days later when i went round to ask her neighbours.
If i lived next to someone in similar circumstances and saw worrying signs i would have to investigate. I know finding her earlier probably wouldn't have saved her but i think she'd still be lying there if i hadn't gone round! Maybe i'm over reacting but at this moment i feel that most folk these days don't give a toss!

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I find it sad that she lived in sheltered accommodation yet no one thought it odd that her blinds had been drawn since what seems like Christmas Day to two days later when i went round to ask her neighbours.
If i lived next to someone in similar circumstances and saw worrying signs i would have to investigate. I know finding her earlier probably wouldn't have saved her but i think she'd still be lying there if i hadn't gone round! Maybe i'm over reacting but at this moment i feel that most folk these days don't give a toss!

Don't blame yourself or others, it's just one of those things. There is no "blame" or "right/wrong"

 

[buggi]

Accy looks like she went in her sleep looking forward to something special. How many of us are going to get the privilege of that? You did that, i hope that gives you some comfort.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Thank you all for the kind replies.

 

[stephec]

I can only echo what others have already said. A lot if old people spend their last years lonely, but she was probably very happy.

Until you came along the dog may have been her only real company, and you took away any worries she might have been having about looking after him.

She then get to look forward to regular visits from him knowing he's being well cared for, and she can look forward to a nice Christmas as well.

Thanks to you Accy she probably went with a big smile on her face.

 

[Pale Rider]

l but i'm sure he senses something.

I was involved in a police reconstruction of a murder - the guy was done in while walking his dog.

The police brought the dog to the nearest T-junction a few hundred metres away and the idea was a copper would walk the dog past the scene.

But the dog wouldn't go, literally dug its heels in.

Seemed to me the dog was clearly distressed at the thought of passing the scene where his master fell.

Fortunately the reconstruction wasn't crucial.

The culprits - his wife and a cousin who was obsessed with her - made enough mistakes to be detected.