suicide? ( Archived) (65)

I have known many suicides. A farmer who got frail and old and had told his family when that day came he would. And did to not burden his family. One who drank to oblivion along with his wife and had a miserable existence. Another whos life after Nam was a mess, drank to the point of smashing his car up cause he didn't care. Another man whos wife drove him to hell and back and he said why live.
In the last two years, a 20 year old because his girlfriend left him.
In the other cases, they felt they were doing their family a service. In the last, a boy who never was taught by society to have coping skills. The young are ignorant of the fact that dead is dead. Forever. They feel their lives have no use or wish to punish others.
That is what makes suicide a selfish act.
My dad told me about the time he contemplated it. He had survived war, divorce and losing his factory. He said he was sitting on a bench by the river, stuffing cardboard in his shoe to cover a hole. He looked at the river and thought what is the use. Why go on when it always turns to crap.
A pigeon flew over and dropped a doody on his head. He said he thought yep..as far down as one can get and then a bird uses you for a toilet. And he stared to chuckle and finally laugh. No matter how far down you go, there is always worse that could be. So he got up, went and found a job, saved and started up in business again. That time he faced another bankruptcy and divorce. And started again and that time ended up with everything I knew him with. That is called strength.