"There is Something Wrong with the World."

Avocado learned today that a friend/enemy from middle school committed suicide this week. "That's five kids in San Francisco that I know of this year." And it brought up for her, of course, her friend's suicide at the end of August, and all the havoc that has wrought upon her life, inner and outer. "There is something wrong with the world if so many kids feel this is all they can do. I feel like my lens on the world has changed. I can't see it the way I used to. And I'm only fifteen! I thought this was supposed to happen slowly."

Dear God. My poor sweet daughter. I think--I hope--that her lens will clear in time. And I would give my arm to spare her this, and there's not a damned thing I can do except sit here with ice cream and hugs...