A Valentine's Day Save

St. Valentine's Day is one of those controversial holidays.  Pictures of hearts and candy and kisses all flowing around, warmth and affection, or possible lonely bitterness, depending on how you wish to spend the holiday or your particular predisposition...

... but here at Z.E.D., we usually like to spend the holiday attempting the original intention of the holiday.  The office is not adorned in very much red tapestry; but when I heard that one of our officers was on a case of a couple, one newly suffering from the Z. Phasmatis disease, I had to investigate.

When I came to the situation, the officers were talking to the man in question.  He was extremely disoriented, and spoke in grunts.  The officer informed me that his wife had called us, terrified that she was married to a "zombie".  She wanted us to dispose of him as quickly as possible.

The officers' training kicked in at this point, and they attempted to discourage her from a hasty decision.  We realize that the disease is most traumatic for the survivors, as media brainwashing has enforced the image of the dangerous undead into our collective unconscious.  So, we took her by the hand and slowly brought her to see her husband, who instantly recognized her.  He immediately calmed down and gave her a pleading gaze, and she agreed that he was of no danger to her.

I watched as the officers went through the information she required in order to carefully take care of her husband until his second-death.  They gave her the option of a constant supervisor at her house, a trained security from our own offices who would ensure both her safety and his.  Everything ran like it should...

... until her husband tried to kiss her.  Disgusted by this, she screamed and ran away.  Instead of pursuing her, the husband looked at us, grabbed a pen, and with a tear falling down his eye, attempted to sign the euthanasia papers...

It was at this point that something strange happened.  One of our officers began to cry himself.  I looked at him, startled by this display of emotion.  Our field officers have gained notoriety for being able to stoically deal with all situations, but with a few words he explained it all.  "My wife did the same thing."

He went into the living room and talked with the wife.  After awhile (a rather long while), they both came out crying.  She looked at me, smiled awkwardly.

"I've decided to sign him into your custody."  She walked over to him, kissed him on the forehead.  "I will visit you, but I need to remember you for who you once were, as well."  She nodded to our officer, and we immediately started the appropriate paperwork.

The field officer looked content, even if red-eyed.  In this field, we attempt to be unbiased, scientifically cold and calculated.  I myself have found myself more drawn to statistics and numbers than human beings, as I have devoted myself more and more to the cause, but this situation reminded me that not everything can be explained without bias, not everything has a number associated with it or a cold-hard logic...

Some things you just feel.  In those two yesterday, I saw love-- true love.  And it is not with a Hallmark card that it was displayed, not that there would have been anything wrong if it had been expressed that way... but it was just... in the room.  It was just there, you could feel it under your skin.

When I returned home, my wife was sleeping.  When I kissed her, I felt her waken slightly, and as she shifted in bed, wrapped her arms around me, buried her head in my chest... I felt blessed, and understood why we devote a day of every year just in celebration of this wonderful emotion.

I hope all of you had a great Valentine's Day

Annual Report

It has been a long time coming, but the annual report is finally up.

It has been a very long year for us here in the offices.  We have been traveling a lot, trying to spread the word.  The job is, at times, seemingly thankless.  As our intern exposed, we are subject to a lot of hatred, as with many liberal organizations.  Change is not an easy thing to convince others to attempt, and we understand, if we are at times frustrated.

Still, the job is not without its benefits.  We have been lucky, and even though the situation is always difficult when dealing with Z. Phasmatis, we feel we have been there to help others understand how to make the best out of a very difficult situation.

Anyway, for those interested in learning more about our organization, the annual report paints as vivid a picture I can give.

As I have said many times, we have a long way to go, but are continuously thankful for all your love and support.

-- Shannon