In Memoriam

[lizwilliams]

Like everyone else, I'm amazed Hunter S Thompson made it to the age of 67 (though not as amazed as I was that Bill Burroughs lived as long as he did). An infuriating and refreshing man in equal measure.

It does take a certain amount of bottle to shoot yourself, though rough on the nearest and dearest who inevitably discover you. I think I'd only ever do it if I had a fatal disease: having spent too much time by hospital beds in deathbed vigils, I don't really want that for myself.

But I'm quite prepared to learn that Thompson did it out of sheer perversity. Still, I'll raise a glass all the same.

Comments

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Horrible for your aunt and for your family, but yes, I understand that.

Mind you, one would need to make damn sure - the father of a friend of mine killed himself for similar reasons: he'd had mouth cancer once and been treated with radiotherapy, but apparently it had come back, so he committed suicide. Unfortunately, he'd been misdiagnosed.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Oh, how awful! For him, his family, and the doctor who did the misdiagnosis.

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

It was grim and the family haven't really recovered from it. He was diagnosed out in S E Asia, in a clinic where diagnostic techniques might not have been up to Western standards. He also died out there, which meant an awful trip to recover the body.

Really, when I hear some people's stories, I count myself very lucky indeed, at least thus far (avert!)