Many sympathies, Spidra and family. And don't feel guilty. We all react in our own ways.

Smonster, I know...some of these people do not know how to chat.I told one of them once that if some guy talked to his sister like he just talked to me, he would kick that man's ass. But, hello, every woman is *somebody's* daughter, isn't she? I mean, I'm not a Wendy Shalit wannabe or anything, but what happened to coffee and talking about your favorite movies before you get to the porny stuff?

Spidra, I'm so sorry for your loss. Please don't feel guilty - you feel what you feel. It's how you treat your mom now when she needs you that means more.

When I leave here, I am taking my client to jail so he can be arrested. Which is the law at work but it still is a crappy way to start the week.

Your client has good representation. And that is nothing to be sneezed at. But you are right, it is a crappy way to start the week.

When my uncle Larry died, my sister and cousins were a mess- aside from one short, hot, furious burst as they were removing his breathing tube. I felt like a robot, but at least I was able to make reservations and give our orders at the bar and stuff.

At the funeral service, though, that was another matter altogether. That was a couple weeks later though.

I was talking about this reaction with my dad a month ago (it's been touch and go with her for months now). I've lost grandparents, an infant brother and an uncle (who was murdered). Yet it always feels kind of distant to me. It's not that I didn't love any of these people at all. I don't remember exactly, but I'm sure I must have cried at my uncle's death - the murder was so shocking. But otherwise I've been pretty dry. The funeral where I most lost it was a funeral for a friend of my brothers'. He had been driving a car my brother was in. He fell asleep at the wheel and wasn't wearing a seatbelt. He woke up, overcorrected, hit a ditch and the car rolled. He went right through the windshield. My brother was wearing a seatbelt and woke up upside-down still strapped in his seat. Injured but alive. I think the reason this friend's funeral broke me up so much was because it felt like a close call for my brother and because the friend was his mother's only child.

Seriously, people, wear your seatbelt. My uncle (mentioned above) was a quadriplegic for 30 years because he wasn't wearing a seatbelt and had his head and neck locked under the steering wheel for about 6 hours after his car rolled off the road.

Think on that when you think your seatbelt is uncomfortable or annoying.

Seriously, people, wear your seatbelt.

Totally. Also, wear a helmet while riding a bike or motorcycle. I shudder to think how much worse my bike accident would have been had I not been wearing a helmet.

Offering hugs, prayers, and peace-ma to Teppy, her Boy, and the Boy's mom. Catching up on the last few days' posts has been heartbreaking - and beautiful. I am in awe at the good in people and at what love makes possible.

Condolences to Spidra and her mom.

Continued good thoughts for Teppy and the Boy and his mom and family.

Also good thoughts for Nora.

And for Spidra and family.

Ginger, you can have a whole tray of cookies. Housework can indeed kill you, which is the end of all ironies, since we often hate it and procrastinate and only do it because we've psyched ourself up for the sheer promise of being a good and virtuous person. Having the good deed turn is just too much irony to be borne. Plus, ow. How's your toe?

Oh, Tep, I am so sorry for you and the boy. Do you have, or can you borrow one of those portable DVD thingies? I know he doesn't want to leave, but that might give him a mental escape.

Nora, I'm sorry you're feeling sad right now, but I hope NO continues to improve for you.

I am having post-show blues today. You know when you go see an awesome band at an awesome show and then the next day it's over and you don't know how anything could be that awesome ever again?