Isn’t it amazing how a brief encounter with a person can end up with a moment of regret and sadness. With Jude and I doing a house sit in Te Anau for a month which started on the 4th September, we were going to be here during the All Blacks two home test matches. Deciding that we should find a little bit of atmosphere to watch the game so we would watch the game at the Te Anau Club. The First game being against the Argentinians was being shown and we arrived in time to grab a beer and bar table. The place was not as full as we would have expected but it did allow you watch un obstructed and to hear all the commentary. While making ourselves comfortable a elderly gentleman asked us to join him and his mate at there table for the game, as Jude and I did not know anyone it was a kind offer of which we accepted. With the introductions completed, the man now being Russell proceeded to tell me that several years ago he saved his own life from a cardiac arrest by coughing. Russell did not know that I had just retired after 36yrs as a Paramedic and a discussion soon took place on that subject. Russell listened politely as I told him it was more likely he wasn’t having a cardiac arrest and possibly chest pain only… without going into details of rational behind my explanation, Russell was not offended by what I had just said and the conversation moved on. It’s really amazing how when the whistle goes for kickoff we all become the best strategists, referees and couch coaches the game has never utilised. Jude and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening with Russell and his friend Graham who never spoke much really. The following weekend the All Blacks were taking on South Africa so the venue was going to be the same, only this time we would go a little earlier to the Te Anau Club for a meal first. I think I enjoyed the meal more than Jude as it was more bar style then proper meals however with that out of the way it was into the main bar for the game. Jude and I settled at a table by ourselves just in front of the TV with a glass of beer, it was only minutes to kick off when Russell asked if he could join us and made himself comfortable at our table. It was good that Russell was comfortable with us as we were with him and it seems funny but it was almost as if we had known him for some time. We enjoyed the game and had a few laughs with more chats about all sundries. Russell told us where he lived which turns out that if he fell over leaving the Club he would probably land on his own lawn, he invited Jude and I to call in for a cupper if we had time and were passing by his home. The next day we drove by his place to make sure we knew where he lived for the time we decide to call in which we had decided to do at some stage, he was sitting at the window in the sun enjoying a good day of weather.
During that week I called in to Te Anau Ambulance Station to see Ashley a Paramedic in Te Anau. After a long chat it was time to head back home which was timely as it was not long before I heard the unmistakable sound of the ambulance siren. It now the 24th September, Jude and I went down for a coffee and lunch at the Sandfly Cafe, being lunchtime we were not sure if there would be room. The fortunate side was there was a funeral on and I would say that not only Te Anau but most of Southland must have been there, this mean the Cafe would not be full if everyone was at the funeral and we were correct. Well lunch over and back home as it was cooling rather fast, I jumped on the web and Jude starts reading the paper when she said OMG that funeral is for Russell Baker…. yes the gentleman that made us feel welcomed and comfortable at the Te Anau Club… yes I have to admit it did shock us both and the amazing thing is we both felt terrible as if we had lost a dear friend… there was also resentment and guilt that we never took the opportunity early enough to have that coffee, it is something that will never happen now. It was a subtle reminder that those little things we need to do are just as important as the big things in our fickle existence we live in, it can just suddenly not be there, wither it’s a friend or family, saying how much you love them post humorously doesn’t help your inner being.
We also now know what the ambulance and Ashley went to that day.
R.I.P. Russell Baker – Thank you from Shane & Jude