A lot depends on what socioeconomic level you and your friends/family occupy. Literally everyone I grew up with (my neighborhood) is either dead, in prison, on a quick downward spiral. or hasn't been seen or heard from for many years. Then again, I grew up in NY State public housing, so no one is looking for the conspiracy in my case. My people learned early in life how to brilliantly destroy themselves, and how to create spectacular collateral damage as they do so. Again, no mystery about why they're all dead, dying or wishing they'd never been born.

I'm 56 yrs old, making me a relative anomaly. My people generally don't live this long. We certainly don't think that voodoo curses or space aliens are killing off our friends, families and loved ones. We die easy and toast our dead when they do what seems to come pretty natural to all of us.

I don't personally know many who have died. I do know many in my high school class have died, or stricken young in life with diseases, cancer.
Many of the "most popular and likely to succeed" are no longer living or sick with something that will kill them off before their time.
I think this is some kind of "universal law" of some sort. There seems to be a common thread here.

I was one of the "unknowns" in high school. I am presently doing ok. I am 49 ; healthy and take care of myself. My family tends to live into there high 90s..... I hope I can do the same if the world is an "OK place" and I have my health....otherwise.....Not sure about the world part..really...

My brother had a few childhood friends who died in their mid thirties of drinking. It was kind of a shock to me because I remember them as well...One died of alcohol intoxication at 36. ...

Life is difficult and their are many obstacles to health and happiness ....

Yeah, my friends are dropping like flies too. I'm only in my fifties but have friends spanning many age groups. Seems like there are a lot dying younger than me though, more than I would expect.