I extend my sincerest condolences to...

[InuKai]

My condolences go out to MJ, and not just one celebrity, but Steve Irwin, Rodney Dangerfield, and Pat Morita.

Also, two more that I wish to extend my "RIP"s to:
My Grandparents who had died November of 2007
MY dog, Blackey, whom I had to have euthanized just last month.

It sounds weird to mourn my dog, I know, but she's been in my life since I was 7 or 8.

[ig.]

Now that I got MJ out of the way, I'd like to say RIP to my friend Timmy (aka T-LocC) who commited suicide around the same time last year because of "stress issues". My condolences go out to the Doak family. And RIP to my classmate Marcus who recently shot himself this year, reason unknown.

Seriously, if someone has ever had thoughts of suicide, please tell someone you love so they can talk you out of it, life is too precious. I've seen too many cases of people who want to die before they even give themselves a chance to live. Suicide is not the answer to any of your problems.

R.I.P.

Timmy Doak (1988-2008 )
Marcus (1989-2009)

My heart goes out to you under such sorrowful circumstances. Suicide is an insidious thing - the debate of whether is a cowardly or selfish act is one we shall not have here, yet none can deny that its effects reach far and deep into the hearts of anyone that the victim of depression ever knew, their ends offering questions that will have no definitive answers.

To that end, you've inspired me to add links to sites that deal with the grieving process and suicide prevention to the original post. Though this is not the place for questions of "could-haves" or "should-haves", I would rest easy knowing that the knowledge the links provide helped prevent a senseless loss sometime and somewhere.

It sounds weird to mourn my dog, I know, but she's been in my life since I was 7 or 8.

Think no such thing! Pets are family - there's no denying that fact. They're wonderful creatures that are more than mere background accoutrement to our lives - they're an active participant in our experiences and joys, are there to comfort us in our times of distress, and in some unfortunate cases offer more unconditional love than family members.

On a deeply personal level, no life lost is too insignifigant. And as a person who has lost his share of faithful family companions, I grieve with you.

[Mochan]

Thanks for starting this thread, Ig.

MJ
Farrah Fawcett
Phil Hartman
Steve Irwin
And so many more.

And personally...

My father.

RIP to you all. Your lives were taken far too soon.

I give my condolences to everyone who has ever lost someone close to them.

[tomatocars]

Two classmates from my graduating highschool class of '06 have passed.

One was in a car accident on the way home from a camping trip and the other just recently commited suicide. It's still weird to me because when we all went our seperate ways I lost touch with them so now it just seems like they're still off at school somewhere and I'll meet up with them someday... :/

[Adam]

Man, as sad as it sounds, I don't know where to begin.

I've lost a lot of friends over the years, way too many then should have.

My friends Ryan and Rob who passed away last year from their car crashing into the river due to the lack of signs on the road and lack of lights and knowing where they were.

My grandmother who passed when I was 11 and my grandfather when I was 19.

And probably the one that affected me the most, my good friend Sharon who committed suicide in 04 and it's been such a hard thing for me to deal with since then. It's a pain that never really leaves you and it becomes a constant burden of self doubt. It's not a tragic deal anymore since I've found someone who took all that pain and darkness away, but I still do miss her, and I know she's in a better place now. Just, wish she didn't get there the way she did.

To my other friends, I'm not going to go into it because it'll just be a mini novel hehe..^^.

And to everyone who has lost someone close to them and has experienced this pain that can be unbearable at times.

[veebee]

My heart goes out to you under such sorrowful circumstances. Suicide is an insidious thing - the debate of whether is a cowardly or selfish act is one we shall not have here, yet none can deny that its effects reach far and deep into the hearts of anyone that the victim of depression ever knew, their ends offering questions that will have no definitive answers.

To that end, you've inspired me to add links to sites that deal with the grieving process and suicide prevention to the original post. Though this is not the place for questions of "could-haves" or "should-haves", I would rest easy knowing that the knowledge the links provide helped prevent a senseless loss sometime and somewhere.

I love you man. Consider all beef between us squashed. Word to yo' mother!

[Zangya]

My friend Jessica Hopper, whom in her sophomore year of high school, was hit by a car [by an illegal alien], when she was crossing the high way with Jeffry and Willie. She died instantly. I'll never forget how we first started talking. We wore the same brand of shoes, and for some reason--that made us click. Algebra I was never the same.

Also, R.I.P to Michael Jackson. As a musician myself, the dude was a serious inspiration. I always thought "Man, if I actually get better at this music stuff, I would so love to write for MJ one day." Despite all the horrible rumors, I believe that Michael was a great guy. We all make mistakes. He made walking down the stairs cool, when he was dancing in his "You Rock My World" video. And dancing as a zombie has never been more awesome because of him. May he rest in peace. My heart goes out to his family and friends. He was a true artist. No one can accomplish what he has. Ever.

Heath Ledger was a guy who inspired me to act. Sure, Broke Back Mountain was a great movie--but really, it was him in "What I Hate About You" that inspired me to become an actor. First of all, I had NO clue the guy was Australian. He could mask his accent so well. He was a perfect actor. Especially when he took on his role as "The Joker" in The Dark Knight. I really wish I could shake his hand. What a fantastic job he did in that movie.

Tupac and Biggie. Best rappers that ever existed. No one can ever come close. It's sad that I have to sit by the radio and hear garbage like Lil Wayne and Soulja Boy run the radios with their cliche', crappy music. What you two rapped about was always real. I only hope, that if I ever were to become the musician that I want to be, that my music can do for people what you guys did for people. For the ghetto. For anyone. Everyone out there is garbage right now, compared to you guys. Hopefully their changing lives in heaven now.

My grandmother--my dads mom. I was young, ignorant and lazy. I wish I really could have helped you more. Instead, when you would ask me to do something so simple for you like turning off the stove, or walking with you around the block, I would always refuse because I was caught up in other things. Things that were pointless. I remember when you were having a conversation with me, and you said you thought I thought you were "annoying". It hurt. No one wants their grandma to feel like their grandchild finds them irritating. I drew a picture for her. I wanted my dad to take it with him to the funeral, so that it can be published in the book that was going to be written about her. [I couldn't go because I had school and all.] I left it on my dads drawer, hoping that he would remember to take it. But when I woke up in the morning, the drawing was still there and my dad was gone already. I only wish I could have said "sorry" and that I loved ya. :/

[Balachandra]

R.I.P to my grandmother, Daisy McFadden, who died of cancer-related issues at the age of 57 in February of 2008. She might have lived longer hadn't her boyfriend abused her, and her sister tell her she needed a psychiatrist, not a cancer doctor.

R.I.P to my grandfather, Charles McFadden, who died from issues related to him being stubborn and not going to the hospital when he needed to. He was 59, and was working under a blazer, when it ran him over. He survived that, only to be taken by an infection of his stomach when he refused to go to the hospital.

It hurts more, though, because they each died weeks after I got them back in my life. My grandfather died 6 weeks after he re-entered my life after having been out of it for almost 9 years. And my grandmother died 2 weeks after (we went to say our respects while she was dying, what an awful memory) after being out of for it almost the same amount of time.

The only thing that really made it feel better was when the pastor at her service chose to read the poem I wrote her on Valentine's Day, 4 days before she died. I felt that she was able to hear it as he spoke it.

R.I.P to my dog, Bunkins, who died on her tenth birthday because my neighbors fractured her skull after kicking her in the head... Without her, my brother and sister wouldn't be here because she saved my dad's life when she was just a pup and I a baby... We were only a few weeks apart in birth, too.

Also, to two celebrities and their families whom I cried for when they died:

John Ritter and Steve Irwin.

This thread was a good idea<3

[BigTUnit1]

Friends of my past, who were taken before there time.

and my aunt, whose life was taken by human filth. May he rot in hell, but I hope my aunt is at peace.

[veebee]

I only wish I could have said "sorry" and that I loved ya. :/

I'm not too religious, but I strongly suggest you tell her you're sorry, tell her you love her, tell her you miss her! It's never too late to do any of that. Do it everyday if you must! She may not be here in the physical, but I'm sure the messages will get delivered. And I highly doubt your own flesh and blood would want you waltzing around feeling guilty for the rest of your life. You make mistakes, you recognize them, you study them, and then come to terms with them. But the best part about making those transitions is, even while you're making them, your grandmother's love for you will never change, and with love comes automatic forgiveness.