Seriously. And I may not work in the corporate world, but if I stayed at work and missed my brother's funeral, my co-workers would think I was insane. They'd probably send me home. Or drive me to the airport.

Do not let it get as bad as I did without doing anything.

Yes'm

Barb, go get your iron tested. ::fierce face::

And yes'm

I just hate this, y'know?

amyth, with all due respect, your brother is being a douche. No one is that irreplaceable.

I just hate this, y'know?

I do understand, trust me.

If my brother was dying, my job could go fuck itself.

This.

(the bro who said to me that he knows that he doesn't call me often, but he feels like we're in touch because he reads my Facebook page)

I honestly do this to my sister. Well, I don't tell her I do it. That would be so rude. But I figure I keep up with her (kids) through Facebook and that's enough for me because well, family shit.

That said, I would and have dropped heaven and earth when she's had health things and I would do it tenfold for a funeral.

What the fuck?

Ugh, amyth, just ugh.

What the fuck?

Seconded.

if I stayed at work and missed my brother's funeral, my co-workers would think I was insane. They'd probably send me home. Or drive me to the airport.

B would change the door code so you couldn't get in.

He's a total douche and/or he is finding excuses not to go because he absolutely cannot handle unpleasant emotions.

Right. Bed.

skimmed again...

smonster, I'm glad Angry Girl is doing better! Somehow I've become invested in her progress. I'm probably projecting my worry about my niece.

everyone take care of yourselves!

points at Daniel REST. I know from back pain, dude. Don't fuck with it; it's mean as shit and carries a grudge.

I am definitely an introvert, and while I can be outgoing, I do often share too much; I do have boundaries, but they are invisible to the naked eye. I don't know that I have shields, per se. I think my shield is the persona I developed when I was stripdancing. You can't make any money or have any fun as a stripper if you're shy! For some reason, I really wanted to be a successful stripper, and from my first turn on stage, I loved it; I felt like I could let loose a part of me that I'd always suppressed whenever I was "in costume" (even if "costume" = naked). I was "Shannon", a loud, funny, drunk, fearless, sexy bitch, and Shannon was me, just a different version of me. Now, whenever I'm with a bunch of people and being all gregarious, that's Shannon, even if I'm not in costume (or, y'know, naked). When I run out of energy for Shannon, I go somewhere I can be alone - bathroom, stairwell, balcony, patio - until I recharge, then I come back. Either no one noticed I was gone, or someone cries "Where were you?!" and I'm all coy and don't quite answer, because by then I'm flushed from alcohol and my hair has messed itself up, so they'll just think I was making out with someone.

finding excuses not to go because he absolutely cannot handle unpleasant emotions.

This is likely very true. And I give a lot of slack to people who really are running away from their emotions that they can't handle. But there are also minimum societal requirements and it would be nicer if he'd try too. Grief and the fear of feeling grief are very powerful though.

I was unable to get to my sister's funeral.