It's our family beach vacation. Dan's flying in from Seattle. I'd only get two days at the beach with them instead of four and I'd have to rent a car, which I can't afford. And I expect the penalty for changing the ticket would be not insignificant. And my parents would *not* be happy. I don't know. I'll think about it, but I don't know.

I'd just like to note that this is the second family get together in three months ruined in some way by death, since my grandfather died the day before my parents' scheduled visit in May.

That sucks hard, smonster.

What are the dates, smonster, and which beach? Maybe I could grab you from the airport and get you to the beach? That wouldn't solve the change fee problem, but.

I would also like to add that the new Mac OS persists in autocorrecting smonster as monster. It's taking some getting used to.

Nags Head, and I'd need a ride back from the beach on the 25th. Thank you for offering to help. I don't even know if I can broach the idea.

Nora, are you still at Tales or will you be at the thing? eta never mind, I see that you have to work.

Just keep me posted. We'll be in communication a lot over the next couple of weeks, anyway. But I def. understand if it would just make things more complicated.

This weekend, I'm going up to Arlington to visit my friend Cynthia whose mother recently died (and was buried in New Orleans, actually). This is the friend who, fifteen years ago, when my father died, took time off from her law firm in Norfolk, drove down to Chapel Hill, picked me up, and drove me to Miami so that I could get his affairs in order, plan his memorial service, and close up his apartment. Which was such a not-insignificant favor that I can never repay it. Luckily, she doesn't need or want me to, and is just happy to have me visit.

But if I can pay it forward in some small way, now that I can drive, I'm happy to.

I'm sorry about the timing, smonster. Not that the timing could ever be right. I am confident that you will celebrate Kara's life and memory in many ways, many times, if not at the official funeral. It all sucks.

This is the friend who, fifteen years ago, when my father died, took time off from her law firm in Norfolk, drove down to Chapel Hill, picked me up, and drove me to Miami so that I could get his affairs in order, plan his memorial service, and close up his apartment.

That is just beautiful.

I'm so sorry for your loss, smonster, DJ, and Nora and everyone who loves Kara.

I love the idea of giving him to the woods so that the woods can embrace him. Just beautiful.

He spent a good part of his life saving the woodland. I'm sure it will welcome him as the hero he was.

I am still not coping. I'm compartmentalizing so that I either have to put it out of my head while I attend a shitload of work events (it's a cocktail conference here, and I can't even drink my troubles away, because very bad things happen if I drink while sad or mad.) Or I cry pretty much nonstop at home.

I don't understand what my brain is doing. I know my heart is breaking.

I'm so sorry, everyone who knew and loved Kara.

A picture of my beloved, when we were all much younger.

[link]