A couple of years ago I received a phone call from a neighbor of some good friends of mine. She had heard that I did some catering and cooking for them and was interested in me cooking for her family.
They lived in a upper middle class neighborhood in a beautiful house with amazing decor. They had made quite a bit of money during the large housing boom and they were enjoying it! I was in awe. The family was wonderful, some of the nicest people I've ever met! They lived a hectic life though and were always on the go, taking vacations, and traveling all around. Often times they were too busy to even eat the food I prepared, but they still had me make it anyways.
I cooked meals for them for about a year when things started to change.
I knew the husband's business was struggling (along with everyone else in the same industry). There was an obvious stress in the house. On top of financial and professional worries the husband was bipolar and from what I have been told battled an addiction as well, which added additional stress to his wife and family.
As the months rolled on the stress only began to build further. The husband's business ended up going bankrupt. One day I dropped off some meals when no one was home and left an invoice as usual. A few days later I was texting back and forth with the woman I worked for and she said she would leave payment for me at the house and that she would be in touch about meals for the following week.
I went by and picked up payment, but never heard from her again.
I wasn't surprised. I was a little disappointed, because I really like their family, but I didn't want to put her in a weird position so I never have gotten in touch with her.
As the months rolled on I learned from my friends that they moved out of their house and that the husband and wife were separated. They were going through a really difficult time.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, I was stopped at a stop sign down the road from my house and a man on a bike caught my eye. I watched him as he rode his bike across the cross walk in front of my car. He looked familiar to me. He looked like the man who's family I cooked meals for, but I wasn't sure. After he passed in front of my car he quickly looked back over his shoulder and looked me right in the eye. Like he knew me. At that point I pretty sure it was him, but I still was questioning myself a little.
A few days later I was visiting with my dad on the phone and asked him about the man. They worked in the same industry and knew each other professionally. I asked if he knew how/what he was doing. He told me that he was still around and that some of his (my dad's) coworkers saw him recently. Apparently they use to work for the man and owes them some money and he let them know that he was working on getting them the money he owed them. I mentioned how I thought I had saw him riding a bike a few days prior, but wasn't sure it was him.
A couple days later I get a call from my dad telling me he had heard from his co-workers that morning that the man (I cooked for) had committed suicide. I was shocked. We had just been talking about him.
It was a few days before there was an article in the paper about a body found in the river. I knew right away who it was even though they didn't release a name. About a week later and they finally positively identified his body and released his name. Even though I already knew it was him, it was hard to read his name in print. The newspaper never confirmed if it was an accident or suicide, but did mention foul play had been rule out.
Since finding out about his death, his family has been on my mind a lot, especially his children.
I've spent a lot of time thinking about the man I saw on the bike, wondering if it was him I saw that day.
A couple days later I get my answer.
I was reading the online guest book tied to his obituary.
As I was scanning some of the entries one in particular caught my eye. It was from his mom, one of many messages she had written to him.
One of the things it said was that she knows he is reading the messages and that if he can, will he please direct her to where his bike is.
Reading that hit me like a ton of bricks.
When I think back to when I saw him it had to of been within a day or two, possibly even the same day, he was reported missing.
I've been think a lot about what was going through his mind. He obliviously recognized me. Was he embarrassed to be riding a bike and seeing someone who use to cook his meals? Did he think I was judging him?
There's no way to know.
It bothers me that I didn't smile or wave. Though it wasn't intentional it still bothers me. I often don't react quick enough when I'm unsure or caught off guard
The area of town he was in was near the levee. That was the direction he was riding. Not far from the river.
I can't help, but wonder if that was the day he died. If I was one of the last people to see him alive.
I guess I'll never know.
Today his family said good-bye to him and he was laid to rest.
I hope they find peace.
And I hope he has found it.
They lived in a upper middle class neighborhood in a beautiful house with amazing decor. They had made quite a bit of money during the large housing boom and they were enjoying it! I was in awe. The family was wonderful, some of the nicest people I've ever met! They lived a hectic life though and were always on the go, taking vacations, and traveling all around. Often times they were too busy to even eat the food I prepared, but they still had me make it anyways.
I cooked meals for them for about a year when things started to change.
I knew the husband's business was struggling (along with everyone else in the same industry). There was an obvious stress in the house. On top of financial and professional worries the husband was bipolar and from what I have been told battled an addiction as well, which added additional stress to his wife and family.
As the months rolled on the stress only began to build further. The husband's business ended up going bankrupt. One day I dropped off some meals when no one was home and left an invoice as usual. A few days later I was texting back and forth with the woman I worked for and she said she would leave payment for me at the house and that she would be in touch about meals for the following week.
I went by and picked up payment, but never heard from her again.
I wasn't surprised. I was a little disappointed, because I really like their family, but I didn't want to put her in a weird position so I never have gotten in touch with her.
As the months rolled on I learned from my friends that they moved out of their house and that the husband and wife were separated. They were going through a really difficult time.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, I was stopped at a stop sign down the road from my house and a man on a bike caught my eye. I watched him as he rode his bike across the cross walk in front of my car. He looked familiar to me. He looked like the man who's family I cooked meals for, but I wasn't sure. After he passed in front of my car he quickly looked back over his shoulder and looked me right in the eye. Like he knew me. At that point I pretty sure it was him, but I still was questioning myself a little.
A few days later I was visiting with my dad on the phone and asked him about the man. They worked in the same industry and knew each other professionally. I asked if he knew how/what he was doing. He told me that he was still around and that some of his (my dad's) coworkers saw him recently. Apparently they use to work for the man and owes them some money and he let them know that he was working on getting them the money he owed them. I mentioned how I thought I had saw him riding a bike a few days prior, but wasn't sure it was him.
A couple days later I get a call from my dad telling me he had heard from his co-workers that morning that the man (I cooked for) had committed suicide. I was shocked. We had just been talking about him.
It was a few days before there was an article in the paper about a body found in the river. I knew right away who it was even though they didn't release a name. About a week later and they finally positively identified his body and released his name. Even though I already knew it was him, it was hard to read his name in print. The newspaper never confirmed if it was an accident or suicide, but did mention foul play had been rule out.
Since finding out about his death, his family has been on my mind a lot, especially his children.
I've spent a lot of time thinking about the man I saw on the bike, wondering if it was him I saw that day.
A couple days later I get my answer.
I was reading the online guest book tied to his obituary.
As I was scanning some of the entries one in particular caught my eye. It was from his mom, one of many messages she had written to him.
One of the things it said was that she knows he is reading the messages and that if he can, will he please direct her to where his bike is.
Reading that hit me like a ton of bricks.
When I think back to when I saw him it had to of been within a day or two, possibly even the same day, he was reported missing.
I've been think a lot about what was going through his mind. He obliviously recognized me. Was he embarrassed to be riding a bike and seeing someone who use to cook his meals? Did he think I was judging him?
There's no way to know.
It bothers me that I didn't smile or wave. Though it wasn't intentional it still bothers me. I often don't react quick enough when I'm unsure or caught off guard
The area of town he was in was near the levee. That was the direction he was riding. Not far from the river.
I can't help, but wonder if that was the day he died. If I was one of the last people to see him alive.
I guess I'll never know.
Today his family said good-bye to him and he was laid to rest.
I hope they find peace.
And I hope he has found it.