(later)

It's kinda hard for me to sum up the mixture of respect, and disbelief, and even horror that I feel about the man...but in this case I referred to his suicide as "not surprising" for two basic reasons:

1. a steady diet of drugs, booze, and guns -- it's a miracle he lived as long as he did.
   
   
2. he said he wanted to choose his own time to go.
   

After further reflection (and some drugs and booze, but no guns) I'd now say that I'd like to think he died in the same spirit with which he lived -- always unique, always following his own path, and while it's not a path I'd ever want to follow myself I can't help but respect him for it.