Neanderpundit

In a couple weeks I’ll celebrate the twentieth anniversary of dad’s death.

This is a tough time of year for me, because of that. I doubt this will ever stop hurting, and it hurts for new reasons every year.

Seeing the death around me makes me mindful of the parts of my life i’d like to improve, and I’m hard at work improving them. I intend to die used up, and not from work, either.

Live, you sons of bitches. Don’t make me tell you twice.

Several folks are posting about the untimely suicide of a commenter on several blogs. While I did not know the person personally, it is a horrible loss to anyone. My thoughts and prayers go to his family and friends. At the same time, people in Utah and Philly go off and shoot up a business park and a mall.

Now: Stand the fuck back, because I have no idea how big this goddamned thing is going to get.

The availability of guns wasn’t the problem here, as feinstein et al would have you think, nor is it.. well, fuck, it’s one thing and one thing only: Mental health.

When you’ve been up close and personal with people with mental health issues, you understand the difficulty and the devastation. You also understand that a large number of mental health issues can be treated pretty successfully. The problem is, and always has been, the stigma attached to mental health issues. Nobody wants to admit there might be something wrong with them.

WAKE THE FUCK UP AND LOOK AROUND YOU. There are people you know who are having those thoughts, believe me. Your neighbor, your mom, your cousin, your son. There are people you know who need your help, some help, somebody’s help.

A lot of this shit is preventable, people. No, I would NEVER accuse anyone of allowing this to happen, but I hope that this wakes everyone up who reads here, to the idea that they could be a little more aware, a little more alert for the danger signs. And yes, sometimes (as was apparent in this case) there ARE no warning signs. But be more aware anyway. And if you are having those kinds of problems, yourself, don’t be afraid to ask someone. Don’t be afraid to get help.

Jesus Christ on a cracker, folks. Life is fragile enough.

but some fell, and it’s falling still. I’m actualy looking forward to my trip in, all 55 miles of it, because of several things:

1: I have 4wd. I know how to use it.
2: I have a thermos of hot coffee.
3: a deep grey winter snowstorm in february is calm and peaceful, even in the midst of traffic.

I used to hate snow. Now I love it. Of course, I no longer have to shovel it.