The death of anyone by intentional self-inflicted gunshot strikes me as a terrible tragedy. But I hope I don't come across as sexist or patronizing when I say that this story made me particularly sad.
Mindy McCready was a beautiful, talented, and genuinely decent person who fell foul of an addiction to drugs and alcohol. Whatever personal failings she might have had, and God only knows we all have failings, she didn't deserve to end up dead.
Without going into too many personal details I think I understand some of the despair and hopelessness she went through in her last days. And I would ask anyone reading this to think about the people that you know. And that if there is someone who is facing difficult times - be they legal, financial, family, health, or whatever - that you reach out to them. Let that person know how much you love them, how important they are to you, and that - no matter what - you will stand by them. I can think of no more decent act that one can do for another human being than to comfort them in their hour of greatest need.
