I've had my girlfriend drink herself to death because she could never deal with the guilt of something that happened to an infant son, and my best friend ever eventually have a coronary death after attempting several suicides. My friend had lost her adult son a bit before the suicide attempts. I think both of them just wanted out of the pain.

I felt a bit angry, but really that was selfish on my part. I wanted them to stay around because I enjoyed being with them as a lover and a friend. But in both cases, it was a slow progression that the family thought might happen.

These experiences are different from yours, but there they are.

My sister's best friend and roommate came home one Christmas Day to find her boy friend had hanged himself. He had done it for attention before, but fucked up and did too good a job that last time. Put a real damper on Christmas for some folks for several years.

When I look at the dead soldiers, I think of all the things I did in my late 20's, 30's, 40's, and now in my 50's, and it angers me that these young soldiers are cheated out of this. It is also sad Tonya could not find peace above ground, and enjoy a longer life. Maggie was in her 60's, but I really think if she could have stabilized her schizophrenia and had some kind of way to grieve her son, she had more good times ahead.

Pisses me off that my dad felt cheated out of some good years when he got terminal with his cancer, at 72, but much younger people will destroy their precious lives. But we never know what may be going on inside co-workers, friends, etc.

No attempt to help or make a point, just adding to the experiences here.