I wrote this back in August 2008. One from the freezer.Awhile back I wrote about a guy at work who's brother had been shot. He was a policeman and was killed during a traffic stop at a housing project. It happened months ago, but that guy hasn't recovered from it. He talks very, very little, and when he does it's in a low murmur. As he speaks he doesn't look at you but at some point way off in the distance.
The other day I was told another guy at work's brother was killed. This guy's brother was brutally stabbed to death. It happened on a Sunday, and the guy was back at work on Wednesday. I saw him sitting around a table out back chatting away with people, appearing to be in a perfectly good mood, just like his regular self.
Whereas the first guy's family sounded like it had a law-and-order background, based on what I've observed of this second guy I think he might have some familiarity with run-ins with the police.
So when it comes to death, I guess it's whatever you get used to.