Hello one and all! How are we this fine day..? Excellent. Excellent. 

Don't worry. I am not leaving this life of crime. This is not my own obituary because, frankly, there would not be much to tell you. 

I come to ask about the worrying trend of retirements and what we can do to address this, why is it happening and what does the future look like?

Now, I totally appreciate everybody has their reasons. Times get tough and people need to escape but that can be arranged. You can fly to somewhere tropical in 3 short days and avoid scurvy on the boats nowadays. Surely that'd be better to see than take their way out in such a final way..?

Why are people taking this way out? Why are we seeing Godfather Chairman retire? I genuinely ask this as I don't know. I suppose I don't really deserve to know as a lowly Gangster but I am trying to learn my ways and want to avoid anything that could bring me to that unfortunate end. I appreciate there must be pressure being at the top but is there now more pressure than ever? Everybody is quick to judge but slow to act. Everyone has an opinion but not many will put their heads up to face the consequences. Are there undercurrents that mean people are not truly in control of their own decisions and they don't want to be shot down for making decisions they are not happy with?

Surely it has to be a concern that with regularity we are seeing high ranking members offing themselves. I can only imagine it is like a dagger through the heart when one of your trusted people isn't willing to discuss or mediate their feelings and just gives up. They're your responsibility. They are family. You are basically their shining light to keep them on the straight and narrow and they didn't feel like you could turn it around for them.

Also, having read my fathers diaries it used to be pretty universally accepted that if you chose to leave this world, and you couldn't be talked around, then you were still of use to the family. Your Hit Squad were used to practice their execution skills. That was your final helping hand on your way out but even that has ceased to exist which is a little bit of a shame as it can be highly beneficial to see where people are at but also because it gives you that final chance to talk somebody out of it. That chance, when they look down the barrel to shout stop, I don't want this anymore, let me go.  

Don't get me wrong here I am not saying it is a leader responsibility to molly coddle, hold hands and make sure everybody is absolutely amazing all of the time. I totally get we have to be functionable human beings but it is in their best interests to make sure their families are happy, know what they're doing and have value. 

The question I will pose is this:

When was the last time that you messaged your leader and asked them if they are ok and if they need anything? These people look out for you all day and perhaps more people would remain with us if they were asked.

For, after all, even the big fish sometimes needs a cuddle and to talk to someone on a level. Perhaps we should set up a CL Anonymous meeting so that they can share their experiences so we can keep this suicide rate under check. Mobsters lives matter and we have enough people trying to take them!

I just hope we can find a way to support those who need it and stop this alarming trend within our community. Let me know your thoughts..