Depression is rampant

Depression is rampant among my friends. In addition to the two losses I mentioned in the last post, another close friend, who recently retired, has become a recluse. He goes for a walk alone for an hour everyday and then stays inside his house. I cannot get him to go anywhere.

Still another friend has crawled inside a bottle and lives in astate of altered consciousness most of the time, and yet another told me he is collecting pills with the intent of taking his life. The poor man is no longer able to walk and spends his life in a wheel chair or in bed. Having been a football player in college and a naval officer, he is crushed by this inactivity. He hates being an invalid.

I am surrounded by this depression and my job is to remain above it. I am doing my best to stay untouched.

Friends

I am losing friends at a terrible rate.

One week ago a friend from high school days went to prison for a year after entering a guilty plea. His friends expected him to have a trial and to be found not guilty, then life would go on as before. I have been unable to speak to him to find out why he pleaded guilty.

This morning a friend of about seven years died. He had surgery a couple of weeks ago and had been home for five days. Everyone thought he was past the critical phase of recovery and then this morning he suddenly died. He one of the most humble people I have ever known and the world is poorer for his absence.

Impermanance is a fact. Everything crumbles and I will disappear someday, however I miss them both. It all makes me sad. It is a bad time but I suppose I will feel better tomorrow, assuming I am here tomorrow.