The Voices

Dear Artist, dear neighbor,

I hope you don’t mind if I post these snapshots of mine, of paintings of yours, and of your home, in your honor, without your permission.

I visited your home with a real estate agent, when you first put it on the market last summer.  I never take photos of personal items and art when visiting houses for sale; there’s no reason to.  Except I loved the bold colors, the cheerful abundant abandon in your art.

So when my agent told me that the owner was the artist, I snuck these couple quick shots, which, unfortunately, do not do your paintings justice. If I had known, I would have taken more time with the photos.

If I had known, I would have bought your home, and maybe set a different chain of events in place.

I am sorry.  I am sorry for the loss of your talented life.  http://www.placitasartists.com/a_goodridge/

And I am sorry for the agony your husband must now be enduring, as he realizes that he failed to protect you from the voices.

I’m sorry that we have created such a misguided society, that we would lock a crazy old man up in jail, rather than direct some of our enormous resources into figuring out how to protect us all from the voices.

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PLACITAS, N.M. (KRQE) – An elderly man is locked up, charged with the murder of his wife.

Sandoval County deputies say 72-year-old Thomas Goodrich called 911 Saturday morning, saying he had just killed his wife.

When deputies arrived, they say they found his wife, Anna Goodrich, badly beaten in her bed.

Deputies say the murder weapon was a rock the couple kept by the front door.

Goodrich told investigators that he had been hearing voices and feared for months that he and his wife would be attacked.

Goodrich said he didn’t want his wife to suffer any pain and “wanted to put her out of her misery.” He says he attacked her as she slept.

He is charged with an open count of murder.