The Medical Examiner failed to notify my police detail to release Burt’s body.
This was an hours long oversight which involved not just waves of paramedics but lasted through three shifts of cops.
We asked the first of them if R, Burt’s aide, could go home but they and he lingered at home. I called in to his doctor so she could get hold of the M.E. before the end of her shift. Still no notification.
Burt and I were left with one very young policeman [I know, I know, at my age, they all look like teenagers].
On the phone my dear friend S. and I shared our perplexity over the delay.
It was her call to the M.E. that got the go-ahead. S. told me he was very apologetic and said I could finally put in the call to the funeral parlor. Within seconds, my young police officer got the ping on his phone as well.
The crew of EMTs first on the scene had pronounced at 11:29. At 5:30ish, I finally called the funeral service to come take Burt’s body. They closes at 6, so Burt was going to a mortuary in New Jersey for an overnight stay. At 7:30, two men arrived came to carry him away.
It had been a long sad day but he looked like he was at peace the whole time.
this is our life 