Today I go to the eye doctor for an exam - so I got this ready on Monday night.
Somedays we just need to plan ahead and get in front of the ball and make things happen!
And then some days - the best laid plans go haywire!!!!!!
This weekend, I picked up the paper and was randomly reading this section and then that section. I came across a story, that sent me back in time!
The story was about 'one' of Indiana's serial killers - Orville Lynn Majors. He was a nurse in SW Indiana, and was found guilty of 6 murders on the elderly in area hospitals. It is suspected that he killed dozens. He injected them, then tried to act like the hero to save them when they crashed in many cases. Just really sick stuff!!
Well, we met this guy. He was from the small town my niece and nephew live in - in southern IN. He had a shop there in town. We visited that shop often, when we went down for visits. He was usually there, always remembered us, and was so nice and kind. We had many a conversation with him.
One night Glen was watching the news and yelled at me to come see. There on the TV was Orville, being arrested. It was beyond hard to understand at the time - then the stories all came out.
I mean WHO KNEW?????? Oh my goodness.
It just goes to show - you never know about people you meet - no matter where it might be.
A person that seemed so friendly and nice and kind was secretly killing people. (yes at that time).
Not a proud thing - but not many can say they met a serial killer!!!
Another thing that struck me - made me sad - was while reading the obituaries (my first read each day), it just dawned on me, that we have obituaries, and we have death notices. I have seen this so many times - but it just made me so stinking sad this weekend. The obits tell about their life, family, careers, etc. Maybe not in the paper, but there is a link for online reading.
The death notices are people that died and maybe all the county knows is a name and age or just a name. They have no idea about family or life. This still amazes me, considering all the red tape everyone I know must go through, just to get admitted to the hospital. They ask for anyone knowing this person to contact the coroner office.
How sad - you leave this world and there is no one to tell you good-bye or I love you, as you are leaving. They list these names for a few days, hoping for a response. Some of these people are newborn babies!!!! That makes me want to cry.
I guess they get buried in a pauper grave if no one claims them. I have seen stories before of folks stepping up and having a service for some of the babies - and I have heard of that happening for a couple veterans. Just showing a little dignity and gratitude for life.
I find that all so sad. We all need someone!
Told you this was random!!!! LOL
Sometimes my little brain goes off on this or that tangent. I never know where it may take me!
I guess life is still a mystery to most of us. We think we know what is going on - but do we really?
Things happen that make us go 'wowza' all the time.
This big old world is actually pretty small in the scheme of things, and we are even tinier!
Just my silly ponders!
Have a blessed day.
I remember a nursing home couple who resided in the nursing home where I worked. They died within a day or so if one another. They had no children, only nieces and nephews. No one claimed their bodies and they stayed in the morgue for approximately a month. I guess the county or state finally buried them. The sweetest little couple you’d ever meet. I remember that nurse story you were talking about. And you knew him!! You just never know, do you?
ReplyDeleteOh that is so sad. I sure hope my life ends better than that. My niece and nephews have been given so much info on me - so hopefully they will take care of things.
DeleteNot well - but yes, we met on several occasions and talked. Crazy, scary world.
That serial killer story made the news where I was living at the time. It's troubling, as nursing homes are supposed to be a safe place for those who need more care than they can get at home. We will be visiting several assisted living communities with my mom this weekend and security is one of my items to question. Here, the difference in death notices vs. obituaries is the cost. With our larger papers, It's $$$ vs $$; with the local paper, it's paid vs. unpaid. I've not seen the kind of notices you mention, that are posted for someone to claim. I do know of someone who left their ex's ashes at the morgue for several years ... they ultimately shipped them to her, signature required. Don't know what she did with them, either.
ReplyDeleteIt was a huge story back then. He actually worked in hospitals, and this happened at several he worked at!
DeleteSecurity is a huge issue. Assisted living seems the best idea to me - if that is possible. Good luck.
Here you get a mention - then a free online obit if money is a problem. But there is always the death notice, just no info on the person or knowing who next of kin is. So sad.
Oh my goodness - I guess no love loss there! Sad that HIS family wasn't involved.
Oh my goodness, how weird! I bet that was chilling to know,...and he seemed like such a nice guy...Yep, they are amongst us. Scary. We must be careful, not fearful but careful right? Look what happened to my dad? A "pastor" and his wife! And you were so correct... Titles. They mean nothing.
ReplyDeleteI really like that meme, it's very, very true.
Our family including our girls used to volunteer at the nursing home. One day there were these two guys there, young guys. One was handsome. They stepped up and were singing hymns with us. We later saw their photos on the front page because they were "s" assaulters. : O We just never know...Disgusting and horrible.
That is incredibly sad that there are little babies unclaimed like that, or sweet elderly people...Oh my dear Lord, what has become of us?
I know how it is with random thoughts...If I had the time to blog all of mine it would be quite interesting and entertaining too! lol
Enjoyed your random thoughts! God bless ya Cheryl!
We do not know who lives next door or walks amongst us. We may think we know people - but people can be so deceiving.
DeleteThat is horrible about those boys. I think so many people think they can do whatever they want and it is OK.
It just saddens me so much, that people die alone and then no one wants to show them the respect that any life deserves!
Oh my head - goes 24/7!!!!!
LOVE that sketch, Cheryl. Good luck with your eye exam today. Hope it goes well.
ReplyDeleteI've never known a serial killer. At least not that I'm aware. The obits got me to thinking, though. I had 2 uncles, both named Jim; one was my mother's brother, and one my natural father's. Both had... well... issues. When my mom's brother died, we wouldn't have known about it if my older brother hadn't seen the obituary in the paper. With my father's brother died, no one had heard from him in 40 years. My sister had his address and always sent him a Christmas card and B'day card, but never had any response. At Christmas time about 4 years ago, a cop showed up at her door and asked if she knew a man by that name. He had died in another state just over a month before, and a cop had been assigned to find next of kin. Her Christmas card arrived, so he contacted the police in her town to see if there was any relation. That uncle had never married or had kids and was a complete recluse. Sis handled his estate, including his burial. If not for that Christmas card? Wow.
Okay, speaking of random things, I saw a tarantula for the 1st time in my life yesterday morning. Thankfully, it was outside, but making its way to the front steps. I slapped it with a flip flop and killed it. Hubs asked, "Why did you kill it?" Um... tarantula!!! I guess I'm braver than I think.
Also random, yesterday Dollar General was out of butter and canned pumpkin. Actually, they were out of many food items, but said customers told them Safeway was out of canned pumpkin, too, as was Walmart. Is anyone else seeing this? Kind of strange.
--Elise
When, not with. Typo.
DeleteYou give some very good examples of why someone might show up in the death notices vs. obits. Wow, 4o years and no response. God bless her for continuing to reach out and YES that card sure was timely! Sure makes you wonder why people just walk away to never return. I guess there must be some huge issues.
DeleteWell crap! I probably would have killed it too - IF I could get close enough!! LOL! Odds are - I would be running the other direction.
Not seeing that problem with pumpkin here. Actually last time I went shopping I noticed a couple of big displays of pumpkin. Hopefully, it should be showing up soon, as the season is coming up. No problem with butter that I have seen, but I have plenty in the freezer. Hope you find it soon.
My family is... complicated. Has been for generations, from what I've been told. My Dad (step-dad), before he passed in 2000, told me I should write a book about it. No thanks! Some things are best left alone.
DeleteI have butter in the fridge, but after reading about expected shortages for the holiday season, thought I'd pick up extra. Do you wonder if those "news" articles themselves lead to the shortages? Like T.P. in 2020? --Elise
You betcha I wonder - and yes, I firmly believe the 'news' has much to do with things. I do not trust the news to inform me of anything really. I watch local only - and I see some stuff online -but I only believe half or less.
DeleteIt sounds like the family may be complicated. That is ok - we all have skeletons!!! We just make the best of it!
Goodness, to realize you'd met a serial murderer must have been quite a shock. He obviously had his preferred victims, those who were vulnerable. I don't if it was his story I read about but we've Angels of death here in Canada too over the years. So sad!
ReplyDeleteAs I've been working on family history, I've been finding members who were alone through much of their lives, and others who have simply disappeared. One of the latter is a woman who married in the early 1900's, had six children with her husband, none of whom made it beyond four months of age. At some point she and her husband separated (perhaps divorced). He remarried and had children with his second wife. The last info I can find for the family member is a crossing to Detroit to spend time with a male friend for four weeks. She never returned to Canada.
You probably read about him and yes, they called him the Angel of Death. No angel in my book. Just horror. We were absolutely shocked.
DeleteIsn't that something. I guess we probably all have family that just disappeared and no one ever passed on the story of what happened or maybe they didn't know. Truly sad.
If serial killers and other less than salubrious types didn't come across as nice then they'd never be trusted or gain employment.
ReplyDeleteVERY good point. SO many trusted him. It does seem that is the story you hear about most of them.
DeleteHi Cheryl~ The diagram for life plans is perfect! I feel like we all must go through ups and downs as we go through our life journey...God is in charge :0) I worked for many years for a defense attorney...I have met more than my share of murderers...I will never understand how their minds work, it's very scary. I have never seen an obituary wondering if anyone knows the person who died...that's so sad, especially with babies...so sad! Life really is a mystery. Have a wonderful week! Hugs, Barb
ReplyDeleteBarb that sure would be an interesting job. My, I bet you did meet more than your share of criminals.
DeleteIt is just so sad. I mean people have these babies, and obviously just walk out and leave them after they die - like trash. I do not understand people. Guess that is not my job - God knows!
Hello, all! Like everyone else, I also can't say I've ever known a serial killer. How odd that would be! However, I can completely relate to not really knowing someone when they surprise you by doing something unusual. In the span of about a year, I got 2 phonecalls from an old school pal that I had also worked retail with. They both involved turning on my TV to live news!! The first one was a high speed car chase thru Los Angeles and the second was a hostage domestic situation in a quiet neighborhood nearby. She never told me straight out who it was, but in both cases, it was people I NEVER would have suspected! The car chase was our very nice store manager, who was so good to work with. I watched as they did one of their police maneuvers and cuffed her. And there she was! Surrounded by police and flat on the ground. If I recall, she robbed a store or something similar. My friend had recognized her car and vanity plate immediately. The other was a guy we'd both known all our lives. Sweet, gentle, handsome, etc. He was very popular and we both knew his whole family from baseball, football, and all those activities. His wife was leaving him and he took one of the kids, holed up, and threatened to kill himself and his son. Huge police presence, neighborhood evacuated, etc. My friend's mom had called her as the news had flown thru the neighborhood. He ended up releasing the boy, but killed himself. I remember my friend and I sitting on the phone in silence as they took his body out on a gurney with a sheet over him. In yet another twist of fate with that one, I ended up working with his next door neighbor a couple of years later. She and her young son had been evacuated by SWAT and she was horrified that I knew "that crazy ass nutcase!". It was sooo strange to hear him described that way.
ReplyDeleteLife is certainly odd, isn't it? Oh, and I love your diagram!! So true 😂
WOW!!!! That is all so crazy. I had a nephew in law (ex) who robbed a bank years and years ago. He felt desperate. He was easy to find, as he basically left a trail of money to his house - he had walked home!!! LOL. I still chuckle about that - the worst criminal ever. He since went on to be a good citizen from what I hear,
DeleteSo sad that the man threatened to kill his child. People sure act like there is no other solution available. Crazy stuff. Sad he had to decide to take the worse way out. What a memory for his child to have to live with.
The world is surely a sad and pathetic place at times.
I lived in Wichita when the serial killer BTK began to be active. I was in junior high with the elder daughter of his first victims on the day four of her family were killed. He frequented our local (2-1/2 blocks away) grocery and library where I often went. He hung out at the WSU campus while I was a student there, too. I was his "type", thin with long dark hair, so I may even have been stalked. He was a rather ordinary looking man, pillar of his church and a Cub Scout leader. I had nightmares about him for many years, even after moving out of state, until he was finally captured.
ReplyDeleteNot to hijack the thread, but here's an update on the wasp situation. I sprayed the bejeebers out of the nest from the roof and then went up yesterday a.m. to get a better look at it. Well, the nest is down in the wall of the house! Realizing that this is waaaay above my pay grade, I called a professional who specializes in wasp and bee removal. I described the situation, and he said they are yellow jackets! He is so booked up that he can't come until Saturday morning. Husband and I killed over 150 of those things in the house yesterday!! Today is cloudy, so it's not quite as bad, and we left the blinds and curtains shut in the bedrooms. And Debby, no heinies have been stung, though we are careful to make sure all the yellow jackets in the toilet are actually dead before we sit down LOL!
--Frances in the buzzing Trailer Park
I have seen many a show on BTK - oh my gosh! Yes, he seemed so normal and a pillar of the community. He was one sick b**tar*!!!!! I bet you did have nightmares. Man, that is too close for comfort.
DeleteI wish you could see where they are coming in the house - that would help. That is just plain scary. That is a lot of dead yellow jackets. I hate that you have to wait so long before someone comes out. I pray you both stay safe and don't get stung!
Oh my goodness!!!!! We sold a house to a woman whose son lived with her, met him. He killed his wife and put her in a suitcase and threw her out to sea! My mom had a single date with Squeaky Fromm’s brother……the father made a pass at her 😖
DeleteI was actually reading your post this morning as I waited for my eye doctor!!!! What a coincidence! Anyway I then got sidetracked because I traveled to my dad’s house. My mom passed in January and he has a cat that he loves dearly, his constant companion. The cat got out Sunday night so I went to help him look for him and offer moral support. Please keep my dad and Beau in your prayers…..he’s heartbroken. Thank you - Carol
Carol - oh my on the fellow killing his wife. I hope his mom wasn't living with him and knew that! Sounds like the Fromm family was a real bunch!!!!! Yikes. Close calls!!!!
DeleteMy eye appointment didn't turn out as I expected (well sort of), but that is another story.
Oh, goodness, prayers for your dad and Beau. I have heard if you put their litter box outside the door, they usually come back to their scent. Worth a try. I sure hope Beau is safe and returns quickly! Huge hugs!!!
Carol, ask the neighbors to open their garage doors so you can look. I've had 2 kitties disappear and both were in neighbor's garages! And, one day I opened my kitchen to garage door and a beautiful grey cat trots in from our garage!! She was a little dirty, hungry, and thirsty, but otherwise looked cared for. I made her a comfy area in our guest room and she just slept and slept. Poor girl! The next morning, signs were up all over the neighborhood and "Bella" happily went home to her very grateful family! She was about 2 blocks from home.
DeleteCurveball this week is the dryer quit heating today so tomorrow will be a 30 mile drive to get the part and Hubby tearing apart the dryer. There is always something!
ReplyDelete"It's always something" as Rosana Rosana Danna used to say. Hope it is an easy fix. Better than the purchase of a new one! Good luck
DeleteOrville Lynn Majors was a very bad man. The news of what he had done was horrific. Too many people entrusted to care for the sick, elderly or children are not suitable to care for anyone or anything.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful day! My daughter and I went to Whitestown to wait for her car to get a new ball joint, and had lunch and did a bit of shopping. Kind of like grownup Mommy and Me! ha! Hope your day was good!
Yes, he was a horrid example of humanity - if you could even call him human.
DeleteSounds like a wonderful day for you both. You probably need more of those.
Goodness, well here in Stockport, England there was a Doctor my Dad new from his time being a TV engineer. At the time lot's of Dad's elderly lady customers passed away within a short time and I remember Dad saying that it seemed odd so many at the time. It turned out that a serial killer named Harold Shipman had been murdering them for life insurance ect. This man was a GP ( General Practice Doctor ) in England. Looked like butter wouldn't melt if you met him. In the meantime I visited my Ady in the chapel of reSt this morning, looked at peace thank the lord, gave him a kiss and told him how much I love him. Clayre
ReplyDeleteOh wow, that is horrible. I think I have read about several cases where people were murdered for life insurance. It is just nuts what people do.
DeleteOh Clayre, so sorry you are going through this. Please know that he is at rest and peace now. You will always have him with you in memory. We grieve because we love. I feel we have been blessed to have had the wonderful years we did with our mates.
Blessings to you.
I've always been a 'Nervous Nelly" and "Scardey Cat." Ted Bundy went on a murder spree at a FSU Sorority House in my city. He was executed in Florida for his crimes. Off-Duty law enforcement officers celebrated outside the prison site and nick-named the electric chair "Old Smokey." There are psychopaths out there - The problem is they look and act so normal. . . until they don't.
ReplyDeleteOh that was one evil man. Just his eyes scared me. Those people who had to be around him, probably knew things we never heard.
DeleteThey are every where.
I am watching Dahlmer on Netflix and can't believe that even though neighbours in his apartment were phoning about something strange going on in that apartment, the police fell for everything he said.
ReplyDeleteMy days rarely follow a straight path, but that's okay I know that God has planned something wonderful on those days that twist and turn.
God bless.
That man was SICK!!! I have seen several shows on him, and it is pretty darn amazing it went on so long. Just so many things slipped through the system and people kept dying.
DeleteYes indeed. God has it planned - we just need to listen.
Every so often the Lord blesses me with some small, insignificant thing but something that makes my day easier. That's how I know He's always looking after me even when things are hard because He bothers even with the small things so why not the big ones too?
ReplyDeleteI could use a few prayers. I fell and I'm ok but it jarred me so that I feel bad all over. I feel like I've been dogging ditches! Plus I have to take my mom to the doctor tomorrow. She is a very difficult and demanding woman,. She'll want to run errands all over town tomorrow on my day off and all I'll want to do is curl up and hope I feel better. I don't mind helping her but I just don't feel good right now.
~margaret
God gives us so much and He gives us gifts - big and small - everyday. We just need to pay attention.
DeletePrayers for your quick recovery. I am so sorry you fell. Glad you didn't break anything - but that jarring can be horrible. I hope mom is on her best behavior for you. Soft hugs!
To Anonymous
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned that you went to help your Dad look for his kitty that had gotten lost. I'm not sure if you have anything like this in his area, but our counties here in Michigan have what they call lost and found pets of that certain county, such as Branch County Michigan lost and found pets. It's a facebook page. People post all the time for free on these showing pictures or gives a description and area the animal was lost. You would be amazed at how many animals are found and returned. Something you may want to check into. It's free too. I do not have a Facebook account, but I can still get onto these sites and check them out. Praying for your Dad and Beau. Keep positive and don't give up. Call all your local vet clinics, rescues and the Humane Society and the city pound and do it daily. Putting out a lost flier could help too.
Blessings.....Lisa
Great tip. I see those missing babies all the time on FB. We have such a group here. I love how people help each other out. Fliers is a good idea as well. I had a lost outdoor kitty one year around the 4th of July - from noise I am sure. It was hot too. I passed out fliers all over the neighborhood, in case she was in someone's garage - she was here the next day!! It works.
DeleteThanks!
Thank you for the suggestions.
DeleteI hope your eye examination went okay. I do like the ups and downs of God's plan, how true that is.
ReplyDeleteYou never know the private lives of folks and it's a shock when things come to light. My husband served on the same Naval ship as Alan Grimson back in 1996/97. Although not in the same branch, they were both early risers and used the same toilet and shower block and Alan, known as Frank would often pop into the office where hubbie worked, along with others for a chat. He was convicted of killing two young men in the 18 December 1997 and 1998. There may have been others including a Naval rating who went missing in Gibralta. There have been various programmes made about Alan, including Murder Town in 2019.
Closer to home, in 2007 the manager of a local Care Home was under investigation as 7 residents died unexpectedly in a short space of time. Lucy Cox who was 97 died on New Years day and her death started the investigation. It resulted in 3 of the ex residents bodies being exhumed, just awful for their families. The Care Home manager was addicted to prescription drugs and had been stealing the residents drugs and giving them substitutes. She was convicted of Lucy's manslaughter. As a teenaged I worked in the general store run by Lucy's brother and sister in law, so knew Lucy then and later when I worked in a local bank. She was a lovely lady who lived to such a good age she but lost her life unnecessarily at the hands of another.
On a happier note, hope you are having a good week. We packed our garden furniture away on Monday as the weather is now a bit chilly to sit outside. It's our sister in laws 60th birthday this weekend, so a party will be a good time to catch up with my husband's family.
Heather from the UK
No, their private lives are usually hidden well. It is amazing they can seem so normal most of the time, and then they have this awful part of them. Wow, that is working and living pretty close with the guy your husband knew,
DeleteThos poor people - drugs and addiction can sure make people do unspeakable things. So sad for Lucy and all the others. Who knows, there could have been more.
It is getting cooler here as well, this weekend should get very chilly and frosty. I hope you have a nice visit with your family this weekend. Enjoy it all!