My dad did the not tell his daughters about his hospitalization thing. Screaming seems like a reasonable response.

Congrats on the successful baking, Consuela!

Poland may have some good electoral news. [link]

I went to a chestnut festival today. I came home with some goodies—chestnuts and baked goods containing them. They were offering the new, blight-resistant American chestnut saplings, but as I rent I couldn’t take one. If I’d known they’d have them I would have asked my landlords if they wanted me to nab one. Oh well. Still, it’s nice that they’re available. My great grand nibblings may sit under chestnut trees someday.

I will be there in spirit, if not person. David, add my love and wishes to all the others for JZ's life celebration. I will try to follow her fierce tradition of caring and fighting for people with love and compassion.

Shir, Nilly, you and your families are constantly in my thoughts right now. I am trying to avoid hot takes and knee-jerk reactionaries on the internet. My friend here is helping keep me focused on the people and who are suffering and need relief, rather than lash out about politics and culture wars. We don't need more war. We need peace. And a lot of it.

Drew, chicks dig scars. But that said, CAREFUL next time! This isn't Iron Chef!

My heart's aching but it's dull sometimes and I'm working through stuff by focusing on what I can do. Not what I can't.

I'm so grateful to all of you who are able to go to Jacqueline's funeral. I wish I could be there too, but David and Matilda, I'll be thinking of you all day tomorrow and holding you in my heart.

Also grateful for Shir and Nilly being OK and able to check in from time to time.

Atropa, wishing your dad a quick recovery.

{{{Buffistas}}}

DavidS, wishing you guests who recognize you're grieving and give you space for that. Barring that, wishing you friends who'll run interference.

Shir, Nilly, as we say on this side of the schism, /i Dona Nobis Pacem

Made it to SF. So tired.

I will be so happy to see you, minus-t! Expect a big and affectionate hug.

In-Laws arrived, so MiL, Sunny, spent part of the evening with us and retired early. Matilda kind of came and went as we all had big deli sandwiches for late lunch/early dinner.

Then I wound up making cocktails for Chris (JZ's brother) and TJ (the husband of Jacqueline's other brother, Lucas).

And we talked for several hours and it was heartfelt, honest and affecting. But I'm also more emotionally spent than I thought I'd be the night before.

Everything is costing more emotional energy than I expect at this point. I should have known that but I've been in Event Planning mode and then the reality of My Wife's Funeral keeps asserting itself.

Iris the nice lady at the church, found a big lot of purple flowers and has personally promised to supplant all the pink Gerbera daisies with purple. And I have confirmation that JZ's birthdate is officially corrected.

So. I am ready and eager to hug Tamara and Drew and Juliana and Sylvie and Lois and all Buffistae who can make it there tomorrow. But tomorrow is going to be hard.

I'm glad the service is early. I'm glad the service is relatively short. I'm glad the reception is on-site. And I will be eager to go home and decompress. For like a month...

When I walked into his hospital room today, he smiled and said "What a lovely surprise! Who told you?" Because of course he didn't expect M (my pseudo step-sister). to tell me because he's never wanted to worry me and I swear to G-D if I hear that phrase from Dad one more time I may start screaming and never stop.

OMFG! AHAHAHAHA. The fuck, Dad? I mean, for serious reals.

May the service go smoothly, Hec.

I hope the universe gives you all the time you need, David. It's the least it could do.

I will be thinking of you, David and Matilda, and JZ's family, and everybody who knew her. I hope everything proceeds smoothly, even for something we all wish did not have to happen.

Coincidentally, I am having a colonoscopy today, arranged a couple of months ago. (There was blood in a routine stool test, so). If I think of it as a memorial colonoscopy, it makes it a wee bit easier. If anyone could spare some medical-procedure-ma, I'd be vey grateful.

I will be thinking of you, David and Matilda, and JZ's family, and everbody who knew her. I hope everything proceeds smoothly, even for something we all wish did not have to happen.

Oh, Fiona, you said it so well.

And lots of good vibes for you today, for health and all-is-well and all good things.

And, um, timelies.

David, you're in my thoughts today. You and this place. So much love to you and Matilda and Emmett.

Fiona, procedure~ma.

And people, thank you so much for your support. These are awful and heartbreaking times here. I love y'all.

David, I'm holding you and Matilda and Emmett in my heart today. I love you.

Shir and Nilly, you are still — always — in my thoughts.