Happy belated, ND! And health~ma to Nova, Sheryl. And general ~ma for better days for both of you.

It's the first day in Israel where the outdoors mask mandate is off (still required for indoors, even though people started to ignore this a while ago). Schools are re-opening in full capacity too. May the epidemiology and virology sciences and enforcement of masks indoors be in our favor, because common sense is not.

It's a double Buffista birthday celebration today. Both beth b and beekaytee were brought into this world on this day. May the day be filled with delight.

I'm incapable of meara-ing, so I'ma just say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all to whom this would apply.

Spent all day yesterday out in the central Valley with other white middle-aged ladies and lots and lots of dogs (dog agility event), came home exhausted but in possession of two qualifying scores for the dog, so that was nice. But it was 89 by 4 pm out there, and I think I'll have to find somewhere else to compete between now and October...

ION my niece R is getting married next weekend, in a tiny beach ceremony with only 9 immediate family (parents, siblings) in attendance. Except my sister M was upset that her BF was not allowed to come, and felt outnumbered by all the folks on the groom's side of the family, and therefore at the last minute I have been invited as my sister's emotional support person.

While I am happy I get to witness R's wedding to a lovely young man, the whole thing makes me uncomfortable. R is being as nice as possible but I sort of feel like my sister is strong-arming her about it all. M should have made her request sooner, and I'm quite sure that the local aunt on the other side of my family is going to be really upset that I get to attend and she doesn't.

Plus I don't have time to get a dress and will be borrowing one from M.

Bah. Must take dog for a run and then go to the office and clear out files.

I thought it was nice and appropriate that the funeral for Prince Philip included appropriate covid protocols for distance and numbers and masking. I would not be surprised if things loosened up behind closed doors, but setting an example does matter. It varies widely from one community to another here.

Sorry for the family drama, Consuela.

Consuela, I'm sorry to hear that even now, weddings are a primary source for family tsuris.

Laura, I have wondered if the Queen thought back to her mother's response to the bombing of Buckingham Palace during the Second World War and, as the political-minded person she is, chose on some level to use the funeral to reinforce the concept of the nation being undifferentiated in grief during the pandemic. She's 95 next week, and Prince Charles does not inspire affection.

It's still a hell of a lot more ceremony than my friend Maureen's mother received - she died of COVID last year and the local council was only allowing "no-contact" cremations, straight from the hospital to the crematorium, and no opportunity for a memorial service - but 30 mourners in day dress is just about as low-key as the British Royals get.

It's still a hell of a lot more ceremony than my friend Maureen's mother received - she died of COVID last year and the local council was only allowing "no-contact" cremations, straight from the hospital to the crematorium, and no opportunity for a memorial service - but 30 mourners in day dress is just about as low-key as the British Royals get.

I can't tell you how surreal and strange the funeral and burial of JZ's dad was so early into the lockdown and pandemic. Twelve family members spread out in a giant Greek Orthodox cathedral. Family members unable to hug. The funeral director alerting us that he wasn't sure he could find people to dig the grave. Standing on the hill of the cemetery on a sunny day, everybody masked up and in distant household pods. His girlfriend having to stand alone.

I really like this: [link]

I can't tell you how surreal and strange the funeral and burial of JZ's dad was so early into the lockdown and pandemic.

I was fortunate not to lose anyone close this past year, but my heart ached so for the many people I know who did have close losses or were unable to be with hospitalized loved ones. It really was the cruelest part of this ordeal.

Timelies all!

So very tired. Though not as tired as Gary, who has been up late with the code hearings most days this week.(They're supposed to run until 8 Eastern time but have run past 11 most nights. Needles to say, he's not happy.)

Consuela, I'm sorry for the wedding drama. You didn't create the issue. I hope you can just go and enjoy it. Let M, and M's BF, and local aunt's problems be their problems.

My cousin died several years ago, and his son (only child) got married yesterday. The couple had already postponed the wedding either once or twice, due to the pandemic. My mom and I talked on the phone while we watched the mass stream from the church's website. It was beautiful (and there were too many people in that church for my taste).

Cousin's wife (CW) called a month or two ago and told us the wedding was on, but we'd been "voted off the island." I had no intention of going, because of the pandemic, and my family is a logical cut, since they had to pare down the guest list to meet guidelines, so I tried to reassure CW that she and son picked the right people to uninvite. It must have been uncomfortable to make those calls.

My mom and two of my other cousins got the same call. My cousins were deeply offended at CW's "voted off the island" spiel.

CW has a real edge to her, but I think she is aware of that. She used "voted off the island" to four people that I know of, so it's clear she was trying to lighten up the message, because she felt bad delivering it. She is one of the least funny people I've ever met, and I've known her nearly 50 years. She is a good person, but in all that time, I have never thought she was funny.

The two cousins who are reacting badly are two of my closest cousins. I love them, but for crying out loud, can you cut our cousin's widow a break? I don't think either of them wanted to go during the pandemic, so their ish boils down to getting out of something they didn't want to attend, with wording they didn't prefer.

CW is just serious and awkward. She's not a villain. I'm over family drama — on my own side and the in-laws. Grow TF up, people. Sometimes, there are no perfect solutions.

I can't tell you how surreal and strange the funeral and burial of JZ's dad was so early into the lockdown and pandemic. Twelve family members spread out in a giant Greek Orthodox cathedral. Family members unable to hug. The funeral director alerting us that he wasn't sure he could find people to dig the grave. Standing on the hill of the cemetery on a sunny day, everybody masked up and in distant household pods. His girlfriend having to stand alone.

Hec, I will never forget JZ's account of her father's funeral. It broke my heart. As she told us the story of his illness, death, and funeral, I remember she encouraged us to share her story to convince people to stay safe. I did.