Erica Hill, you must be a goddess who has descended from the heavens.
You always seem to know the right thing to say. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!

Looking forward to seeing you at 10PM EST!

P.S. Gimme a WOO HOO!

Dead for 35 years and no one noticed - I wonder if the lady just kept to herself a lot before that or if the neighbors were too busy to notice. I wonder if anyone else has been dead for this long a time and no one noticed?

Some of the people I remember the most are my teachers - I was lucky that I went to school when public schools were doing well and you got a good education there. I value education and wish that it was not getting out of reach financially to so many people; it really does make a difference.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

Hello Erica, I’m with you on education and you are so right that it does help so much to have parents & teacher who care otherwise so many give up..Wow 35 yrs. it’s hard to picture the situation. Have a good wk.end! see u.

Great story about Josh Packwood and his many accomplishments; he is a true leader who is able to transcend race; too bad some of his fellow students are unable to attain such a distinction; as people of all race, religions and creeds strive to viewed equally, it’s so sad to see the likes of Rev. Wright and some of Josh’s fellow students fail to grasp inclusion.

I read the headline on cnn.com about a woman’s body being found after 35 years but I had not gotten a chance to read the article. Wow that is incredibly sad. I think that is honestly my worst fear, dying and no one even noticing or caring. Well I bet those neighbors were freaked out with they found the body. What I don’t get is that no one noticed a smell. I would assume without being embalmed there would be a pretty nasty smell. Well hopefully Hedviga Golik will finally rest in peace.

Congrats to Josh Packwod on his great accomplishments.

Is there a problem with a white student as Valedictorian of Morehouse? My sister’s husband is white and most of his friends are black and to my knowledge there is no issue with him and his black friends. It is really strange to see the older generations get so touchy about it. His father of course is OK with me and my sister but does not like black people in general and says this in our presence unabashedly. Thank goodness the youth are MOVING ON.

“I saw this story recently and couldn’t stop thinking about it. Morehouse College, a historically black college in Atlanta, is about to graduate its first white valedictorian. Morehouse is an incredible school, known for graduating “Morehouse Men” – intelligent, successful black leaders. Josh Packwod fits two of the three on that bill. You can imagine the varied reactions to this student’s accomplishment. It’s a story that can make all of us think, though, no matter your race, no matter your alma mater”

I saw that. I looked him up on google last week. Gorgeous.

And I agree - it’s wonderful and soooo 2008

Hey Erica

That is so sad about Hedviga Golik. It makes you wonder what her life was like if no one noticed or cared enough to visit her or check on her. Did anyone ever even think about her and wonder how she was or where she was? It just shows what a blessing it is to have people care about you and think about you. Sometimes it seems like a hassle, but receiving attention is much better than being ignored.

I hope she is resting and at peace.

Thanks for finding this stories and sharing them with us.

Happy Friday Erica!

On Hedviga Golik, after 35 years….sad and true. I believe it. Perhaps all her friends, were all married with children and moved away, or she was still old and single. Luckily for me, I’ve always had “older” people as friends since I was a teenager. In this lady’s case, maybe she was still old and single and there was no one around.

Maybe she came from a dysfunctional family practically raising herself and didn’t think anyone around her was approachable or who cared enough about her to make friends with. Everyone tends to always be in a rush and with their own life. I was laid off from work after September 11th for 1.5 years just like everyone else who was laid off. None of my neighbors knew. Surprisingly, recently over the last 1 year they have been nosy to the point of noticing when I get home. They always know that I work alot and late so they always took for granted when I was home and when I wasn’t often leaving by 7am and getting home after 10pm.

On education, I can never be too thankful for those professors whose courses like Spirituality in the Workplace have made a big difference in my life. Onward and forward.

All the best.

V.

Hey /Erica:

It certainly is very sad that someone could be dead for so long and no one notice. You have to wonder though about the specific circumstances of this case. I know that I don’t pay a parking fine or utility or property taxes someone would be after me in days! Unbelievable is right.

Also great story about Morehouse College. It’s always a great accomplishment and a giant step forward whenever any lines are crossed and any differences bridged.

Wow! The lady was in her apartment for 35 years?!? She was in that place only a few more years than I am alive! I really wonder how no one ever noticed that she was gone. That is sad that she was there so long that her body mummified.

I attended public and military-dependents’ schools and have many good memories from both. I also have fond memories of my past teachers. I think teachers are not paid enough for the job they do- educating and inspiring our youth.

I read the story about Mrs. Golik and it did cause pause! You hate to be butting into the business of your neighbor but this is a reminder once again that lots of folks live alone. In Florida you hear alot about Mildred falling and 2 to 3 days later neighbors finding her dead. It is really sad. We much reach out and help our neighbors.

Thanks for your comments about public eduation it is imperative that folks support the intiatives of public education. School is part of the web that holds us all together. A great education is not optional. It is required. Many thanks to your Mom and your Sister for offering love and education to our children.

Dear Erica:

You are so vibrant and and glorious! Keep up the great work!

Best Regards,
David Mansour

Tthe presidential nominees are sidesteping the economy right now to focus on issues less import to the american people. To be frank I dont feel much safer than I was 8 years ago, and furthermore safety is the last thing on my mind when I cant provide for my family.

John McCain implies that any meeting with our global enemies is unthinkable. What is his suggestion? A few more wars?
I personally think the Republican Party is most offensive to its own loyal members.

Hedviga Golik -
Wow, so incredibly sad. Have we really become that detached from one another? I think we actually haven’t, and that there are many more stories of one human being helping another than there are of disinterest and cruelty. The small day to day deeds aren’t as sexy and newsworthy, and never will be. The bright side is that even though those stories of small kindnesses don’t make the headlines, people keep helping each other.

Wonder if Josh got into Morehouse the way Barack & wife got into Columbia, Princeton & Harvard; thru affirmative-action.

Hi Erica

What a sad story about the woman being dead for so long and no one noticed how could this have happened? It’s really unbelievable
to even comprhend taht no one cared about at all and this is trully sad.

Thanks for the story and wonderfull reporting you guys do on the show!
michelle

Hi Erica, sorry I missed your blog last Friday. I was busy celebrating my wedding anniversary.

Guess I won’t look at my nosy neighbors the same way again. I used to complain that they’re always in my business, asking about this and that. I live in a pretty close-knit neighborhood; we know each other’s names; we know each other’s stories. After reading your article, I concluded I’d rather have this environment than the opposite.

Thanks Erica! Have a great weekend.

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

Hi Erica! Poor Hedviga.How did she ever go unnoticed without utilitiy bills or a baliff for non-payment?How unusual. Last year, here in Australia, there were a number of elderly deaths where it took two weeks to a month to discover. They died alone in their apartment and were missed. If it wasn’t for the odour that was drifting into the building, they would probably still be there? Some of these people just fall through the cracks and are forgotten. It is very sad that people have to die alone and no one notices. Government services should be required to follow up on people, especially the elderly. They deserve to be cared for, family or not. It is very sad indeed.