Situations like you describe give me fits, askye, with my tendency to blurt when uncomfortable. I wish, over the course of my life, that I had not backed away so much.

askye, do you know what faith the family practices? The etiquette might be different depending on that; I know, for instance, that for many (most?) Catholics, the wake is the public event at which anyone who knew the deceased in any capacity is welcome, whereas the funeral is more private and family-oriented.

Visitation is the perfect solution for this. I think that's why the things were created. They can be hell to sit through for family (raises hand), but people can slip in, say what they came to say, and leave. Funerals, in my experience, were for those who felt a need to say a more formal good-bye.

I'm pretty sure they are Protestant. Also I just found out that there is going to be a video presentation of her mother's life (originally planned for her birthday) that runs about 20 mins.

There's just no way I can do that. So visitation it is.

Lilty and Jen have new tags.

beathen, you don't have to bring your WF DVDs cause THEY ARE MINE ALL MINE.

My bags are already packed and in my car. The moment I leave the office, I'm heading your way without stopping at home.

May I leap in and say "hi!" first and then go back and read the last couple hundred posts? I had a 3.5 oz. bar of dark chocolate for breakfast - me, who gets a big buzz from a single decaf latte; what was I thinking (the answer being: not) - and I haven't felt this jumpy since the time I ate a bunch of No-Doz when I was a teen to stay away to care for a kitten who'd either fallen out of the rafters of the barn or been kicked in the head by one of my friend's horses. The kitten's eyes were spinning around. Just like mine feel now, in fact. The kitten was fine by the next day. I hope that I am. In the meantime, may I chat?

eta: awake, not away

Now I'm feeling dizzy.

that for many (most?) Catholics, the wake is the public event at which anyone who knew the deceased in any capacity is welcome, whereas the funeral is more private and family-oriented.

Yes, this. I've been to many more wakes than funerals and I'm not even Catholic (just seems like the people I know are).

mearaing:

((Nora, so sorry about your friend))

Kristen-check out that county across the Golden Gate from SF while you’re at it! I can’t help pimping it. It was SO much fun to have libkitty in town and get together to watch Lost and stuff like that.

Yay on a good start to school, vw!

My one year Buffistaversary is next month.

How do you tell this, besides remembering it? Okay. Hmm, when was the move to Phoenix made? I could date it from them. I was at either WX or PC, whichever was right before Phoenix, for a few months and come over in the first flush. That was a really cool night.

In case this is useful in re the rashes discussion, there’s this ointment called “Bag Balm” that a friend uses a lot on her eyes - she has had several eye surgeries and has an allergy to preservatives in most eye ointments. Which is to say, this is how I deduce that it is Good Stuff for itchy things, etc. I’ve used it on first outbreaks of athlete’s foot when I haven’t had any specific ointments available and it works to fix that, which is great. Though mostly, I used my blow dryer on my feet. I wonder if that would work for you, Susan – blow drying the itchy parts?

Yikes, Sparky1, sympathies to your sister.

I had mono once. Whew-eee. Get up, make tea, have a bowl of cereal. Lie down and sleep for 3 hours because THAT was so exhausting.

Askye, congrats on the new house/apt.! So great! Also, funeral/memorial services are for the living, so you’re going in sympathy/respect for the person you know, not the decedent. On the plus side, it could be really interesting. Rituals for major life events, as death is, usually are. And, what everyone else said.