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Death, Suicide and Revelation

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The few that know me perhaps too well will occasionally be dismayed with my morbid fascination with those that take the step that cannot be repented of. There are actually some that believe that this is the unforgivable sin spoken of in the Bible but most God centered doctrinal scholars reject that particular belief.

I further find it ironic that one of my very favorite comic book series from DC is titled Suicide Squad (as written by John Ostrander) but that's another kettle of fish to fry.

If you dig very far back in the annals of Mtpspur the sad case of my mother has been certainly detailed but of more interest in this entry is that of my Aunt Mrytle that I believe was also chronicled.

For over 40 years I have pondered whether she accidently overdosed on sleeping pills or committed suicide in the face of the tragedy to her only son my Cousin Bob having been caught in a fire that left his body 90 percent burned and me with an ability to visit hospital patients without flinching--the one area I excel my own brother Bob in.

Nowadays in the aftermath of tragedy there is mass effort on the part of all and sundry to provide counsel and guidance to the young ones lest they discover life is unfair and a rose garden is not available 24/7. Back in my time bad things happened and you stood firm in the eye of the storm and just dealt with it. If sympathy was provided it was the cold careless life goes on morsel dished out as almost an afterthought.

Now yesterday was my sister's birthday and I was hugging my emotional scars with a Pharisee's delight in hanging tough in the emotional coldness I find stealing my heart and soul and replacing it with a stone as a result of losing my mother over a year ago and finding it hard to miss her. I had recently come out of the angry stage of loss (again) and we were going over the things that made my mother the emotional succubus she became--starting with the very sour mother of hers. I freely confess a dislike for my grand-mother past contempt and you'll see no remorse for the confession as I prefer an honest declaration to hypocrisy in the name that the family linen is clean.

My Aunt got mentioned in reference to cousin Bob and two things came out of it. When you are a child ALL elderly people seem ancient and as the years go by they all seem to be of an age. I was sort of aware that my mother was a 'little' younger then her sisters and one brother --he of whom I never laid eyes on in his entire life --another sad dysfunctional event worthy of Oprah but had no idea the age gap was 15 years. My mother had been unplanned and unlooked for by my grand-mother and she was constantly aware of this status growing up. My sister has made me aware of this to a great degree in the past few months and some mysteries have been exposed to the sober life and a bit of pity has started a small seed of growth in my resentful soul at MY harsh treatment growing up. In mentioning the death of my aunt as counterpoint to my mother being very close to Cousin Bob since they were of like age I made a remark about Myrtle taking pills and my sister told me something I had never ever known or even suspected.

My aunt did not take the pills by herself. My Uncle Lester had GIVEN them to her. It was never suicide at all (she tended to be a weak person forever protected from any sort of unpleasantness in life) but an accident her never waking up. As a child it would have been nice to know this simple fact. I have had a major part of my thought processes turned topsy-turvey. So suicide isn't a pattern in my family after all.

My healing continues and I have been bemused all day over it.

One odd -- very odd comment. My sister has always wondered if my Uncle KNEW what he was doing. Even my drama queen personna can't accept that insinuation but the fact that my sister has never indulged in flights of fancy has given me pause for wonderment. I decided to stick to the old image of elderly types that crabbed at each other all the time. At this point much safer for my mental health.

Sigh--happy times must be ahead. Time to walk towards the light.

Updated 09-20-2009 at 02:02 AM by mtpspur

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  1. applepie's Avatar
    The path of healing is paved with some very interesting material :) I'm glad to hear that you are making it along fine. I've wondered, but I'll confess that I'm not one to pry into possibly painful topics. I've my own sore spots where family is concerned, and I tend to prefer that others not poke at them so I typically treat everyone as if they have the same idea. I'm really happy to hear that you are also getting a bit more insight into your mother. It doesn't excuse her own actions, but a bit of understanding them can go a long way. Love, Meg
  2. Virgil's Avatar
    What a great blog Rich. One of the best. My only thought is that I always find it hard to believe that one "accidently" overdoses on sleeping pills. I mean it must take at least five, if not ten, and who does that accidently? You are still the master of the blog form.
  3. Shalot's Avatar
    Seriously Virgil? It might take 5 sleeping pills to get someone to sleep when that someone has built up a tolerance. So yeah, an accidental overdose is possible.
  4. mtpspur's Avatar
    Shalot thank you very much for that input--I respect Virgil's insights too much not to give them due weight and I confess his remarks threw me especially in light of my sister's comments on the state of my aunt's marriage that I was certainly ignorant of. Whereas I let the drama all out my family was close mouthed to the point of obsession.
  5. Virgil's Avatar
    Hmm, I guess never having taken sleeping pills I wouldn't really know. But wouldn't one be conscious of the possibility that hey i'm taking risks in sucking down so many? I'm sure it says on the bottle what a safe limit is. I would be frightened to death (excuse the pun) in going beyond that limit. Well, I guess people get unreasonably comfortable with certain habits and delude themselves of the proper risks. (There's a term for that in management decision theory which I can't recall.) Ok, I concede you guys are right. But hey, let that be a warning to people that take sleeping pills and medicine in general.
  6. qimissung's Avatar
    This was a great blog. Ah, family dysfunctions and secrets.

    A small twig of thought to your musings: You and a relative argue, the relative dies, and you are left with the residue of grief and the knowledge that they/you were angry with each other when they died. Whatever the circumstances, the act ends here. Nothing can be changed or learned or said or forgiven. On their part anyway.

    I am glad you have come to a time of healing. What a relief to cast off those dark feelings. Everything that came before was true, too. Let love exist in your heart for your sake.
  7. Pendragon's Avatar
    I am sorry for you, dear friend, that you must lead such a topsy-turvy life. I feel that my own attempt at suicide recently may have awoken demons in your own life. I cannot take back what I did, and even sometimes wish that I had pulled the trigger, but I know you and others here on the forum are bearing me up, in prayers and kindness. I am only a call away, anytime you need to talk. I have lost your number, but mine is publicly posted on my blog. I have your address. Let me help myself by helping you in dark times

    Dale
  8. mtpspur's Avatar
    Dale, it's I that should have been thnking of consequences about discussing such a topic. I can truthfully say I knew nothing of your attempt until moment but you are in my thoughts and prayers. Perhaps I cling to the demons too much---I desire to understand everything that people do to and for each other. I value you Pen--very very much and my world would be smaller without you. I'll phone you soon and we shall share hearts as brothers in Christ should. God bless.
    Updated 09-23-2009 at 11:17 AM by mtpspur