This is truly bizaar to hear about 2 different suicidal attempts by senior citizens of 2 different coutries.

There are lots of suicidal patients around holiday season. Thanksgivng. Christmas, New Year. People get lonely and sentimental. Or simply the winter blue gets them by the time. We get busier with these patients because they require a sitter in the room to watch over them in addition to a nurse.

Of course for someone who does not work in the psych ward, I do not understand what makes people want to end their lives. But a 78 year old lady?!?! "I have to be the sitter for her," said Maria, who is my favoriate PCA on the floor. "Well, why can't she wait? In a few years God may take her back regardless what her will is. " We both shared this warped sense of humor. I thought a suicidal attempt by someone at her age is not a good bargain if she succeeded, she would enter the "limbo" where its not hell or heaven. The soul just wanders.

I went home that night and had a phone conversation with my mom. She told me how most of her friends have psych problems and how someone attempted a suicide by overdosing herself sleeping pills.

"Whats the matter with her?" I gushed out almost disgustingly. "She was sad because all her children work and live all over the world." GOSH, since when your children's success is NOT a good thing? "They are not able to see her every day. She gets sentimental about it." Well, even the richest businessman Wong Yung-Ching can NOT make his children do anything anymore, what does this little old lady think she has a right to keep her children and their family all live underneath the same roof of hers? Its physically impossible.

"Then she took 38 sleeping pills while her daughter and son-in-law came in from Canada on a vacation..." WHAT?!?! I almost fell out of my bed. What kind of SELFISH mother could do such a thing?! "Yes, she thought if she died, her body would be taken care of by her children..." I suddenly feel very sorry for her children. Stupid people do stupid things out of fear.

"Tell your friend that if she waits for another 10 years, God will have to take her too..." I told my mom my "bargain theory." "But she told me that her mother lived 105 years before she died. She said she does not want to die alone..." Ohhh...but EVERYONE does.

"Give her a gun as a present, mom," I told my mom my next suicidal plan for her lonely friend, "Why didn't she use a gun to shoot herself in the head? BAM. the most simple and painless way to die." I feel disgusted by people who OD themselves as a suicidal attempt. It almost looks like they have a drug problem but not a psych problem. Its like, can an alcoholic od themselves with liquor?

"Well then, if getting a gun is too hard for you, mom," I continue with my other plans for this lonely friend, "Just tell your friend not to take her prescription medications. So she could die from stroke because her blood pressure is high, cholesterol is high....." You know, so she could die legitimately, but not a suicide. "No way, she even goes to the clinic when she has a slightest cough or sneeze." Oh, really. How do I know people like that. Hello?

"I want you to be AWAY from your those friends, mom" I was angry. "They are BAD influence." this is my conclusion. "You come and hang out with me more if you want." But I wonder if I can talk her into taking a trip to anywhere.

Well, happy new year anyway, mom.