I got the news that my parents' accountant has had a sudden downturn of health and is no longer working, effective immediately.  My parents told me.  They in turn learned about it through a text sent from their accountant's phone, although the person who sent the text is his son.

It's not like I really know the guy.  But as long as I have lived, he has been the one who has prepared all my parents' tax affairs.  And we have talked from time to time if he needed me to relay some message to my folks because either they were overseas or they didn't understand.  My parents (well, Mother in particular; she's the one who handles all the financial stuff) have always badmouthed him.  Mother only talks to me about their accountant when she wants to complain about him.  It's not incessant, but I have never heard her say a good word about him.  So I feel bad about how my folks bash him without him knowing; I know the feeling.  Add that he apparently has suffered a very serious health emergency, and I sympathize.  In fact, I grieve for him, even though he probably will never know my sentiments.

And in the meantime, I might need to help my parents find a new accountant.