A life without adversity

I recently attended a memorial for a man that I knew from high school. He was a soch, athletic and handsome. He was married to his high school crush, they had 3 children who then all had husbands, Military Honor Guards no less, and children.
The memorial was held in a hotel Ballroom with over 1000 people in attendance, food buffets and open bar service. The guy owned a very successful business and nearly 300 employees in attendance. It was standing room only. I met up and sat with friends that I have known since I was 12.
The evening started with his best friend expounding for nearly 20 minutes on what a great guy he was. He was followed by the three-some of golfers who are now missing the foursome, told their own stories with one guy unable to finish his discourse because of the flow of tears and snot. Next came 8 more people one at a time with their own ballads of tremendous humanity, humor, generosity and cooking. The night ended with a 15 minute slideshow with ooos and awwws and hoots and hollers from the audience as each slide showed more and more of a gifted, world traveled and privileged life.
Suicide is selfish act which transfers one's burdens to family and friends. As soon as the final tribute effused and the entire family acknowledged I turned and whispered in my friends ear "What an asshole."

Got a quarter?

There is a young man that is on the subway everyday walking in and out of the length of each car repeating the same question over and over and over: "You got a quarter? I'm trying to catch the bus." He is tenacious and unaffected by people's responses or ignorance. He keeps repeating his question over and over every ten seconds, walking through the crowded train cars, hand outreached. He has rhythm and cadence that is hard to ignore. People peer between others or their books. No one gives him a quarter, not the regulars. Then a tourist will reach in a pocket and hand him one and he never stops, not even a thank you. "You got a quarter? I'm trying to catch the bus."