Just Remember

It was March 26, 2001 a typical Sunday I had heeded up to the Warrens to give them the weekly e-mails and to go over some of them with Lorraine. I was also visiting to review some of the cases I was working on for the Warrens. I headed for the living room where Ed was sitting and I sat on the couch. We began talking about a few cases we were working on.

At that time, Lorraine's sister had come in and she was giving Lorraine a gift. Ed and I were getting into some heavy conversation about the intensity of the work, and he looked at me and said, "Kid, you have to understand that I will not always be around. You have to start to make some decisions on your own with cases and stand on your own two feet. I know you have it in you to do that. I've seen you handle some very heavy cases and work with the researchers, helping them to understand this work. You know what to do, John." I looked at him and said, "Why are you talking like that? You are perfectly fine and you will be around for a long time." He put his head back in the chair, closed his eyes, and said to me, "I will always be around you one way or another. Just remember that and they will come at you from all directions. Just think back on what I would do, ok kid?" I was confused as to why he was suddenly talking to me about these things.

Just at that time, Judy and Charlie came in and Judy was upset over just losing her pet. They just stopped in to say hello. They saw my car in the driveway. Lorraine came in to see if we would like coffee, and went back into the kitchen to make some. I looked back over at Ed and said, "Why are you being so serous about not being around?" He opened up his eyes and smiled at me and totally changed the subject.

Little did I know that it would be our last conversation. He collapsed that night and went into a coma for several weeks. He finally came out of the coma, but with very limited abilities, which continues even today.

It has been four years now, and I know that we all have the ability to communicate in different ways. I do know he is around. I just think about what he said and know that he is there helping me with the work I do today.

by John Zaffis
March, 2005