What Do You Think of ThIs "Odd" Sympathy Card?

hearlady

hearlady

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N Carolina
I received a card in the mail and the name didn't ring a bell. The address was out of town in another part of the state.
I assumed it was someone DH knew although the name was starting to sound vaguely familiar.

To sum it up he said he just heard of DH's passing and I was in his thoughts. He knows I have a solid support system but if I need anything I just have to ask. Signed ###
Then, in parenthesis, it says he was the ( old ###ville town manager 2012-2014) Very nice right?

So now it comes to me. He was a patient of mine 10-12 yrs ago for a very short time. I remember him now but can't help wonder. DH's obit was not in the paper. He's not on my Facebook. He doesn't live a town over. He travels and "fixes" towns that need help with their msnagement.
I suppose he could have been in town, dropped by my old office, inquired about me and my former assistant filled him in.

Still. Is this odd? I am suspicious by nature. I guess I did touch some lives in my profession but still.......what do you think?
 
hearlady said:
I received a card in the mail and the name didn't ring a bell. The address was out of town in another part of the state.
I assumed it was someone DH knew although the name was starting to sound vaguely familiar.

To sum it up he said he just heard of DH's passing and I was in his thoughts. He knows I have a solid support system but if I need anything I just have to ask. Signed ###
Then, in parenthesis, it says he was the ( old ###ville town manager 2012-2014) Very nice right?

So now it comes to me. He was a patient of mine 10-12 yrs ago for a very short time. I remember him now but can't help wonder. DH's obit was not in the paper. He's not on my Facebook. He doesn't live a town over. He travels and "fixes" towns that need help with their msnagement.
I suppose he could have been in town, dropped by my old office, inquired about me and my former assistant filled him in.

Still. Is this odd? I am suspicious by nature. I guess I did touch some lives in my profession but still.......what do you think?
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Unlike others..I would be suspicious too..... but only you know him, so if your gut instinct is telling you something is wrong, then go with it... you're at your most susceptible and vulnerable right now....
 
My knee jerk reaction is that he heard the news... doesn't really matter how... and wanted to offer condolences. *But* the part about letting him know if you need anything, just ask seems odd to me, yes. That's because it's been so long since you interacted with him. I'll say that to someone I've been in touch with, but not a virtual stranger. 🤷‍♀️
 
I'd guess he either stopped by that office or you have a friend or acquaintance in common. Either way it seems someone mentioned your husband's death in passing, and this person was kind enough to express condolences.

Unless there's a bizarre follow-up to this, I'd accept the card and condolences at face value and be touched at his kindness.
 
hollydolly said:
Unlike others..I would be suspicious too..... but only you know him, so if your gut instinct is telling you something is wrong, then go with it... you're at your most susceptible and vulnerable right now....
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I really don't know him. If he hadn't written the part on the bottom I wouldn't have figured it out. Well, I would have googled him. 😊
I would say I'm cautious, very cautious.
I remember him to seem like a nice man.
 
hollydolly said:
well I would be cautious... I thought you said he was a patient of yours ?:unsure:
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He was. But I had patients for many years. I only saw him for a short while which to me was maybe a year or two and seeing him every four months so not a lot. And ten or twelve years ago!
I agree with @StarSong that it was likely through the grapevine. But, still cautious, always.
 
hearlady said:
I received a card in the mail and the name didn't ring a bell. The address was out of town in another part of the state.
I assumed it was someone DH knew although the name was starting to sound vaguely familiar.

To sum it up he said he just heard of DH's passing and I was in his thoughts. He knows I have a solid support system but if I need anything I just have to ask. Signed ###
Then, in parenthesis, it says he was the ( old ###ville town manager 2012-2014) Very nice right?

So now it comes to me. He was a patient of mine 10-12 yrs ago for a very short time. I remember him now but can't help wonder. DH's obit was not in the paper. He's not on my Facebook. He doesn't live a town over. He travels and "fixes" towns that need help with their msnagement.
I suppose he could have been in town, dropped by my old office, inquired about me and my former assistant filled him in.

Still. Is this odd? I am suspicious by nature. I guess I did touch some lives in my profession but still.......what do you think?
Click to expand...
It can be meant just friendly, but I wouldn't contact him just in case. Sometimes they fall in love with their nurse.
 
Definitely leave it alone. think he went overboard a little on the info he gave on the card. also he was a patient...In the last 12 yrs the world hs changed a lot and there are scams everywhere. Now he knows you are single if had had any intentions 12 yrs ago and couldn't act upon them.

Also think about this : how do you really know for absolute sure the card came from him? Really??
 
dusty said:
Definitely leave it alone. think he went overboard a little on the info he gave on the card. also he was a patient...In the last 12 yrs the world hs changed a lot and there are scams everywhere. Now he knows you are single if had had any intentions 12 yrs ago and couldn't act upon them.

Also think about this : how do you really know for absolute sure the card came from him? Really??
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Very true. My intention never was to reply or respond.
 
Tsk. Not a romantic in the bunch.

This man fell deeply in love with his beautiful hearing nurse, but knowing she was married, kept his feelings to himself. Then one day he heard she was a widow and bravely sent out a feeler. Sleepless nights followed as he waited for a response, planning how they would share their golden years, spending his millions as they traveled around the world on his yacht, stopping only for shopping trips in all the ports.

Now he sits sadly by the window of his mansion, faint hope rising with each mail delivery.

loneliness-concept-sad-man-near-260nw-2491607133.jpg
 
Della said:
Tsk. Not a romantic in the bunch.

This man fell deeply in love with his beautiful hearing nurse, but knowing she was married, kept his feelings to himself. Then one day he heard she was a widow and bravely sent out a feeler. Sleepless nights followed as he waited for a response, planning how they would share their golden years, spending his millions as they traveled around the world on his yacht, stopping only for shopping trips in all the ports.

Now he sits sadly by the window of his mansion, faint hope rising with each mail delivery.

loneliness-concept-sad-man-near-260nw-2491607133.jpg
Click to expand...
To kill time he decides to go to a senior forum. What on earth are they saying about me?
 
Della said:
Tsk. Not a romantic in the bunch.

This man fell deeply in love with his beautiful hearing nurse, but knowing she was married, kept his feelings to himself. Then one day he heard she was a widow and bravely sent out a feeler. Sleepless nights followed as he waited for a response, planning how they would share their golden years, spending his millions as they traveled around the world on his yacht, stopping only for shopping trips in all the ports.

Now he sits sadly by the window of his mansion, faint hope rising with each mail delivery.

loneliness-concept-sad-man-near-260nw-2491607133.jpg
Click to expand...
Doubtful but thanks for playing. ;)
 
I'd just take it at face value and not answer at all. In fact, in my experience, most people don't respond in any way to sympathy cards. When my husband passed, I put all the cards in a folder to look at some time in the future, which I think I did once. They are a sweet way to remember a sad time, and to appreciate the kindness of those who reached out. But I think that's all they're meant to be.

About the "support system" comment, I'd just assume that this is one of those folks who get a bit carried away when offering condolences.
 
I want to make it clear, I would not respond or reply. Not because he probably isn't a nice elder gent but the circumstances should make anyone wary. If he is a nice gent, he would likely agree that I not reply and just appreciate the sentiment..........and share it with my 50 friends. :giggle:
 
I didn’t find it odd – sometimes people just like to acknowledge someone passing whether they are close to them or not. Maybe he was grateful for the time you spent on him when he was a patient and just wanted to let you know you are in his thoughts. Just to be on the safe side, I wouldn’t follow it up any further.
 
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