My people may be a little callous and strange, but the more acceptable and thus much less us way of saying would've been that the people who love and support us have a way of coming together when it's most important. And that's something great to hang on to when you need it.

It's also where it comes in handy to reframe "funeral" as "celebration of ___'s life". You come together, the people who loved and valued that person, you celebrate life - his, hers, theirs, ours. As a member of the set of people who cared about that person, simply hanging out together qualifies as celebrating that person's life.

I think.

His quality of life sucked for the last few years, and before that, he had spent years making us miserable.

Oy. We weren't quite there, but it was a hard several years, especially for my dad.

I did just get a call from one of my cousins, on my dad's side, who is traveling and is going to try to get here for the funeral, which would be really nice.

I'm thinking of buying a bunch of cheap flashdrives and copying pictures onto them, to give away to visiting family. My dad scanned a ton of old family photos and it would be great to share at least some of them.

That's a fantastic idea, Consuela.

My child, the turd bucket, refused to go to day camp today. He came to work with me and is now home with McPhee. No electronics except radio and if he pulls the shit tomorrow I'll charge him for the day. giant turd.

how can sitting in an uncomfortable chair in my office with nothing to do be better than day camp where there are other kids and swimming!

maybe he doesn't like the other kids?

maybe he likes your company?

Suzi, is this an online course or something?

It isn't online but it is a computer program. He goes to the computer lab at school and there is a program for each of the courses offered in the summer program. I'm pretty sure he only has access to the two classes I paid for.

In separate CJ news, I have also made his appointment for his Driver's License test - July 24th. Now we will spend the next month being picky over the letter of the law stuff. He drives well, I know that they look at all the little things on the drive test.

pish and posh.

granted he does not know the other kids yet and meeting new people is way way way down on the list of things mac wants to do, but tough tuddies, it is part of life. It is why we choose a day camp that goes all summer, so he only has to meet one group of kids and counselors.

I love that idea, Consuela.

msbelle, does mac have social anxiety? Or is it just the shift in his routine? With my kids I know it would be B, but I always think it's a good idea to ask about A.

I think the flash drives sound lovely, Suela.

It is why we choose a day camp that goes all summer, so he only has to meet one group of kids and counselors.

OK, so you've taken any social anxiety into account then. I don't know but here are some {{hugs}}. I hope tomorrow he just pushes himself over it.