Look out! It's spreading across the countryside!

The blues, that is. Here's an email I received this morning from my oldest friend:

"I have dipped into the dark place and can't pull myself out. Since Sat., my bucket is empty and I don't have the energy to figure out how to fill it up myself. My tried and true means of yanking myself from the dark place are failing. Is it the dreaded evil of hormones? I felt so blue that this morning I woke up and was shocked I was still alive. I mean isn't it the deal that God doesn't give you more than you can handle? Well, what if you are over quota? What happens THEN?"

The part of me that is objective and enjoys irony realizes it's funny that anyone would turn to ME for help with a problem like this.

What's going on? Are evil-doers poisoning us with odorless, depressive gasses through the vents of major office buildings? What can we do to combat this epidemic of depression?

Naturally, dear blog, I will not be this flippant with her. I will remind her of her children and how much they need her, that this will pass, and how much she is loved. But it's not like my bucket is especially brimming, as she would say, and I can't help but find the humor in this.