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.

Happy birthday, ND!

Post Deleted!

Happy belated, beth b and beekaytee!

And I am very sorry about family dramas.

I've lost three people in the past year—one due to COVID. There hasn't been an in-person ceremony to mourn any of them, but there are plans to do so when things are "normal". It's so very weird, like a thread of sadness that you can't put away because there's still an upcoming thing tied to it. I feel especially bad for my aunt, the woman whose husband died of COVID about a year ago. Over 60 years of marriage, and now she's alone, without even a moment for people to hug her or a ceremony to mark Uncle Al's passage.

On the other hand, it's great to hear that people are moving forward with weddings and such. And I'm looking forward to a new great-nephew joining the family in June.

In unrelated news, there's a Consumer Protection warning about the Peloton treadmills, if anyone here is using them. [link] Peloton is being a bit of an asshat about it. "We provided warning pamphlets. Your pets and toddlers are totally reading those, right?"

I saw the article about the Peloton treadmills - seemingly one child died (!) and there have been a number of injuries to other children, adult users and pets. And Peloton is refusing to give the CPSC the names of injuries that were reported to them. Makes that ad they had a year or two ago look almost benign.

On the bright side, there was an article in the paper about a woman who had been married fairly recently. She and her husband to be had scheduled a wedding and then, in the pandemic, postponed it and ended up having a civil ceremony with few or no witnesses. She'd planned to have a big reception and bought a special dress ... but with no chance of having a reception any time soon, the dress remained unworn. Until she decided to wear it to her vaccination appointment - walked into the site wearing a fancy dress, did her hair and make-up, heels. The people administering the vaccine were amused and appreciative.

On the other hand, it's great to hear that people are moving forward with weddings and such. And I'm looking forward to a new great-nephew joining the family in June.

Moving forward is so grand. Next week I'll get to spend time with both my sisters at the same time to celebrate Judi's 71st birthday. There will be many hugs! I'm not sure how we are going to handle my brother. We are all fully vaxed, but my brother never will. On the other hand, he is pretty much home bound anyway.

Until she decided to wear it to her vaccination appointment - walked into the site wearing a fancy dress, did her hair and make-up, heels. The people administering the vaccine were amused and appreciative.

That is so delightful!

I had bizarre dreams last night but one I remember particularly is I was playing some form of Jeopardy, except it was a team thing, and more than 3 teams, like 4 or 5. And I was playing against buffistas, and realized all the categories were things that y’all probably knew better than me (there was some sort of fanfic category that the first question involved the avengers, which I have not watched, and I was like “well crap, now I have to avoid that category too!”) So, uh....thinking of y’all in my sleep?