Tragically, on October 4, 2005 Ryan Monson, known to all of us as Harry Houdini or just Houdini, ended his life. His loss has impacted us all. I know it came as a blow to myself. I didn't know Ryan in person, but he was an online friend. Maybe this is out of place, but this is how i'm dealing with it.

Ryan loved the yoyoing community deeply. He spent hours on many projects, and was always quick with a quip to make you laugh, a welcome post to read, or even the source of a few pointers. On his site dif-spinners, he even still has hosted a short vid he made for someone new to the sport on how to take apart a triple play. He just cared about it that much.

What can we do to keep him alive? His family requests that donations be made to his name to Wayside Waifs. If you can't do that, teach someone a trick. make an instructional video. help out someone new to the sport. We can keep Houdini alive in this way.

Ryan's life didn't have to end in this way. There was help. All he had to do was ask. I think anyone in the community would have helped him, or at least given it their best shot. Please, if you are struggling with depression, do not shatter the lives that have touched yours (and you'll never know how many have) by making such a desperate choice. There's help. Talk to a friend, a counselor. Call a helpline - look in the phonebook under hospitals, most have crisis/suicide hotlines listed. It might even say "emergency mental health". You don't even have to give them your real name or address or anything. just talk. they'll help. If you can't find one in your area, the national hotline is 1-800-784-2433, or 1-800-273-8255.
You aren't alone...The darkness in your head that swallows you up, makes anything but experiencing it seem better...others know it too. And we survive.