I'm so sorry, Megan.

My condolences, Megan.

And hello to all who haven't posted in a while. I only wish the circumstances could be better.

I forget sometimes how much I live in my own head...like there are a few of you that I think, "I could have so-and-so call them, we're friends," but then go "Wait, are we really friends, or do I just think we're friends because I think of them so fondly...but then neglect to actually follow up with calls or messages or whatever and they think of me as just some rando that they barely know that they maybe shared a meal with that one time..." So just some Sunday afternoon overthinking things. Whatever, I love you guys.

Oh man oh man I am so glad I'm not the only one who feels this way.

I've been feeling socially paralyzed for, oh, since the beginning of June? I can barely summon the energy to post and respond here, nevermind actual email/text/phone conversations. (My job involves a lot of video conference calls, so after-hours Zoom hangouts are unfortunately really unappealing. too much phone.) I know my mood and energy levels would be better if I were less isolated but I don't know how to get out of this rut.

Jessica, that’s the same way I’ve been feeling. I’m half-assing everything and on the verge of failing all of it. Thank you for putting into words.

Hi, friends. I've been lurking for a few days because I'm missing this space so much with all that is going on in the world and with our community here. So much heartache this year. My father-in-law died in May, and it just feels like the year just keeps piling on. Sending everyone love.

I've been feeling socially paralyzed for, oh, since the beginning of June? I can barely summon the energy to post and respond here, nevermind actual email/text/phone conversations. (My job involves a lot of video conference calls, so after-hours Zoom hangouts are unfortunately really unappealing. too much phone.) I know my mood and energy levels would be better if I were less isolated but I don't know how to get out of this rut.

Same. Though, I think mine's been since April. Stitch is back in school, and I still just feel so unfocused and exhausted all the time. Then I start down a spiral of "I should be getting more done since she's in school" and "Why didn't that relieve more pressure?" and so on and so on.

I've been feeling socially paralyzed for, oh, since the beginning of June? I can barely summon the energy to post and respond here, nevermind actual email/text/phone conversations. (My job involves a lot of video conference calls, so after-hours Zoom hangouts are unfortunately really unappealing. too much phone.) I know my mood and energy levels would be better if I were less isolated but I don't know how to get out of this rut.

Yes, so much this.

Megan, SusanW, David, everyone, I'm so sorry. Someone said upthread that there was a weird relief that DX wasn't, presumably, taken by Covid. And it's true. I'm glad if nothing else he was spared that.

But on the other hand this year it seems like even w/o that so very many people are in medical crisis. My dad's been hospitalized twice. My best friend who was hit by a drunk driver. My "uncle" who had an aneurysm at the base of his brain stem - they say it's a miracle he survived surgery but he may never leave the hospital or be fully coherent. My old uni friend who survived open heart surgery but was killed by blood clots a week later. It's just so many and so much. And I'm far from alone in all this, just seeing the thread above. I am, for the nonce, fortunate enough to be relatively "untouched" by COVID. And still the hits keep coming. I want to wrap us all in a bubblewrap den and hibernate through the next year or two.

It is wonderful to have this safe space.

I'm thinking about Thanksgiving, not necessarily that day, but maybe over the weekend. I haven't seen my Florida siblings since the first week of March. They are both in very poor health. My sister goes nowhere at all and my brother works, but the overnight shift at a gate house of a community, by himself. We are in Florida and my brother has a nice big picnic table outside in his carport. I'm thinking we could have a distanced outside meal since we all are careful in day to day life.

I just need to see them. I've already worried for months that I may never see them again and it is just hard. Judi has stage 4 kidney disease and other issues, Jim has MS and other issues. Both have diabetes and blood pressure issues. Yes, I may be able to see them next year some time, but maybe not. I spent a lot of time with my sister in NY, no hugs, but we hung out together safely and it was very helpful.

I think I am going to write to both of them and ask what they think of setting up an outside distanced gathering. It would only be 5 of us. It will be hard not to hug, but not as hard as not seeing them at all.

It'll be hard, but if you can get agreement on staying distanced and careful I think that sounds reasonable.

I'm so sorry for your loss, megan.

Is US Thanksgiving this Thursday? Where has the fall gone.

Next Thursday.