I can't bring myself to blame anyone in the families, friends, (or even the suicides) for the lack of awareness of what they meant to each other -- having listened to them, known them all. I wish we could figure out some way of giving people a celebration of their lives -- maybe that is what birthdays are for, or saint's days, or retirement parties, or anniversaries. I would be prepared to say that everyone should have a celebratory day at some point in their lives, just for the hell of it. I can't figure out the logistics of it, and maybe people do it already at these events, but sitting through two solitary suicides' funerals is a fucking stupid way to treasure people's lives (that is the second time I have ever used an obscenity at this site, since obscene is what it is).
yours, Peter T.