Reply #73: Yes--two people

[mnhtnbb]

The first was an 18 year old boy who'd been a close friend of our oldest son; seven years ago. He had spent a week at the beach with us in 2003, so we had gotten to know him a little better than the kids who just sort of run in/out of your house during those teen years. The following December he took a gun, went into the parking lot of the small park across from the high school from which he'd graduated that spring (my son's senior year) and ate the gun. My son was asked to be an honorary pallbearer. Going to the funeral was one of the saddest days of my life. The parents ended up divorced several years later. His younger brother--same age as our youngest boy--seems to be doing well in college.

The second was a girlfriend from high school--a fellow cheerleader (40 years ago)--who jumped in front
of a train 14 months ago. Everyone was shocked. Nobody could figure out why she had done it. No note.
Turns out, her husband--and the love of her life since middle school--had pleaded guilty to tax evasion
and last November was sentenced to 10 months in a federal penitentiary--where he is now serving his time.
He was caught keeping a duplicate set of books for his import business. This guy was a football player, Mr. Personality, worked for a major brokerage firm; they'd lived in Tokyo and London during the height of his career. I suspect now, as do most people, that she was humiliated by what he did and couldn't face
living with him--or leaving him. Just a guess. She was 57 and left two adult children.

It's so hard for the families and friends of people who make the choice to commit suicide. So hard.

:hug: