Ken,

The story line for "The Big Chill" didn't just occur to the writers as a way
to showcase all that neat music or the ensemble actors.  There was a
terrible wave of disillusionment during our young adult years which was
reflected in the suicide rate.  We're all deeply touched and saddened when
people we're close to choose to take their own lives, but that shouldn't
make us insulate ourselves from others.  Many times about all you can tell
the survivors in such cases is that you are sorry.  Frequently they are in
such a state of confusion that is about all they can process anyway.  Also,
keep in mind that people working their way through the grief cycle (and in
most of these cases we are too) are often so agitated that anything beyond
"sorry" can be taken wrong.  Here again we can't allow that to put us off
from offering support and solace.  The grieving process is generally
difficult for all enveloped, and like raising kids "it takes a village" for
all concerned to work their way through.

Tom