I'll add a couple of things I learned over the years using a chain saw. Don't cut on a very windy day, yes the wind can catch the top of a tree and send it in the wrong direction--even with the notch. Have an escape route to move away from the tree before you saw. In other words make sure you have a clear area to get to quickly in case the tree was to fall back toward you. If your only experience is cutting up logs and not cutting down trees, you might want to get someone to help that has experience in felling trees. Felling trees requires a litle more knowledge than simply bucking them and is a little more dangerous. Size up the tree by looking up at the top and seeing where the weight is concentrated or which way the tree is naturally leaning. Usually you throw the tree in the direction of the lean, but if that is not possible due to the fact it might fall on your house or get caught up in another tree, you can rope it. Tie a rope up as high as you can get it in the tree to be cut down. Wrap the other end around a tree in the direction you want your tree to fall. Pull the end back toward the side you will be sawing on and tie it to your truck hitch. Pull the rope tight by driving the tree ever so slightly forward and keep the tension on the rope. With the notch on the felling side, the tension of the rope pulling the tree in the direction you want it to go, start sawing the tree. About half way through the cut, pull the truck up slightly to increase the tensin. The gap of the cut should be wider which would indicate the tree will fall in the direction you want it. Cut into the tree again until it is about through. Pull the truck foward and the tree should fall where you want it. If you only understand a little of this or none of it, hire someone to cut your trees. If you lack confidence in doing the job, don't do it. Saving a little money is not worth injury. The term "widow maker" is sometimes used to describe a tree that is dangerous to take down. I had one of these and I hired two men to take it down. I sawed it up myself. Even after watching the job, I probably would not attempt to take down a "widow maker" with a chain saw. I would hire the tree guy with his bucket truck.

I hope the spirit of this message returns to every mind in every place on earth to thank the Almighty, One and only One, above the Heavens to bring peace to ours and the future generations.

You're so right about the path of suicide but, in my mind, I think they're may have been a genetic disposition to depression as I've known two families where the father committed suicide and then the child and their child. You'll never know but know that you are the one who suffered terrible blows and went on to make people happy and calm. That's your gift and your a sensitive, sweet, downright lovely person. Your Mom knew that and so did you Dad as well as your nephew. You took the high road and now to let it all go and get on with your life with the knowledge that you made all the right choices. Nothing could have changed the outcome. May you go on in peace and love.

It seems that if you have two parents who are living together and fighting all of the time/not getting along, that is definitely detrimental for everyone involved- if there is eventually a divorce in the equation, and the custodial parent is unable to let go/angry/etc., and there is a new partner for the other parent whom the custodial parent resents, and the custodial parent is basically trying to turn the child against the other parent and the new partner, how on earth can anyone win in a situation like that? I've been on both sides- my ex and I absolutely couldn't get along, and there was constant bickering which the kids saw, and didn't need to see- there was a divorce, with one of my children wanting us to get back together, and that is totally understandable- kids want mom AND dad...together- but what children don't realize, and I've told this to my kids along with my stepdaughter (who is 9, and who lives with her mother- her mother is angry, bitter, and tells the daughter things such as I "stole" him from her, which isn't true--)is that mom and dad will ALWAYS be mom and dad, even if they don't live together- and that sometimes, both mom and dad can be better moms and dads if they DON'T live together- It shouldn't ever be about us as adults, in adult relationships- it should always be about the kids, and in a perfect world, both parents should be united on that front; realizing that it is about making the kids feel safe, feel secure, and realize that they are not losing either parent because of a divorce, when if both parents are together on it, it isn't that way- there are parents who live together where mom or dad has to go away on business a lot of the time, and isn't there that much as it is- the main thing is being involved in your child's life if you aren't the custodial parent- I think that maybe the new partner doesn't always feel that they 'don't want the child around, involved in their new life', although I will admit there are probably quite a few of them who feel that way- so much as it is that when a custodial parent is telling the child not to get along with the new partner, etc. because they themselves can't let go of the relationship, it makes it very hard on the new partner- letting the custodial parent and the child basically 'call the shots' about who sees who, when, and where isn't a good thing, especially if the custodial parent is angry and bitter about the breakup and would like nothing better than to cause problems and see the new relationship fall apart, and to use the child to help bring that about is definitely not right- the custodial parent needs to help the child/children feel secure with their relationship with the other parent, as well as the new partner- and the new partner needs to help the child feel secure as well- It really should be all about the kids.