So, my brothers are stuck as the owners and decision-makers; unfortunately, the one who's closest by and has the most business ownership experience also happens to be, well, a business owner with a business of his own plus two young kids who are of course now being homeschooled, and the one who has the most time on his hands is at the other end of the continent and as yet unable to even come for a short come-to-Jesus meeting with the not-optimal guy. And I'm extremely local, but pretty much the last person anyone would want making business decisions regarding mergers, buyouts, firings or money.

That sounds complicated and fraught and I hope your family's able to get that part sorted and done with as soon as possible.

JZ, your account of the funeral was beautiful. Our love and thoughts are with you all. I hope your family can get the practicalities resolved with the minimum of stress and trouble.

JZ, thank you for everything you've written about your dad's passing and funeral -- it's some of the most *felt* writing I've seen on this whole mess, and it's brought home a whole side of living through this that I've (luckily) not otherwise seen up close, since I'm in a place of "all I can do right now is sit in my house and anxiety bake" (or sautee while Rome burns, as Calli so brilliantly put it!). My heart grieves for you and your whole family, but if it helps even a tiny bit, anyone who's reading along knows something of your love and grief and right now.

Timelies all!

Tired as usual. A certain feline and a small boy made sure I wouldn't sleep in...

My customary come-and-go articulateness seems to have settled on gone for a good while, and I'm finding it harder to comment, far more easy to nod and scroll. So I apologize for reading and not holding up my corner of the conversation.

But I have to hug JZ, and Hec and Matilda, too. Your posts have been so eloquently spoken about grief as an unavoidable reality, experienced in the midst of the utter disorientation and constant low-level fear and trepidation of a pandemic. Bringing personal grief and love and loss into sharp contrast with the life we all expected to be living now, and the reality we're all picking our way through, trying not to touch anything. I'm so very grateful you shared your experience, hopefully let our small collective here support the three of you in some small way. Aside from real-world community, and family, and friends, here's another place where you are loved, your voice and experience treasured as you share it.

Thank you.

I can't say it better than Beverly and others have said it. JZ, I hope the love we have for you and yours brings some comfort.

Gud also replied to my email saying he was okay. I hope we hear more from him soon.

Finally got yeast, and naturally don't have quite enough flour to make bread.

My 92 year old grandfather and my aunt in her 70s are officially having Easter dinner with my cousin, the nurse.

Oh, sj. I'm sorry they are not being sensible. Maybe the nurse will be good about masks and hygeine?

I am so sorry for your family, JZ, but I'm so glad your father took the action he needed to do in advance: going through probate at any time is a nightmare, and right now! I cannot even imagine how difficult it would be. So with luck maybe your brothers can coast for a bit before they have to make any big decisions w/rt the business.

I walked the dog, made biscuits to share with the family (my sister is delivering porchetta to everyone), had a family Zoom session to sing happy birthday to my nephew, and now I am ripping Dad's CDs very slowly.

Oh sj. I'm sorry for the nonsense.