I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT MY COUSIN HAD KILLED HIMSELF. HE HAD BEEN IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT WHEN HE WAS YOUNG, AND THE DAMSGE TO HIS BACK GREW WORSE AND MORE PAINFUL LEAVING HIM IN A WHEEL CHAIR WITH PAIN HE COULD NO LONGER LIVE WITH. I AM NOT POSTING THIS BECAUSE I NEED SYMPATHY. WE WEREN'T CLOSE AND I HADN'T TALKED TO HIM FOR THIRTY YEARS. EVERYONE HAS A BURDEN THAT THEY CARRY. AT TIMES THE WEIGHT OF THAT BURDEN MAY SEEM UNBEARABLE. A KIND WORD OR ACT CAN SOMETIMES BRING THE WEIGHT OF THAT BURDEN DOWN. IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE KIND TO EACH OTHER, EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOMEONE OR THAT PERSON IS A STRANGER. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT BURDEN SOMEONE IS CARRYING. IF YOUR WEIGHT IS TOO HEAVY, ASK FOR HELP. CHECK IN WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES WHEN YOU CAN.

THIS IS A POEM THAT HAS GIVEN ME GREAT COMFORT THROUGH THE MANY TRIALS OF MY JOURNEY. I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT.

UNTIL NEXT TIME... THE BEGGAR'S APPRENTICE