One year ago today...

One year ago today, my baby brother died.  On Saturday, i went to the funeral of a close friend. Today is a memorial for another close friend's son. He took his own life a few days ago.  These things make worrying about which political party is right, whether or not i have enough toilet paper to survive a coronavirus quarantine, or indeed, if I'll get the coronavirus virus and die, all seem pretty fucking unimportant. My wish for today is that everyone go home and hug their mom or dad, their wife or husband, their kids, or their dog. Just let whoever in your life is important know that you love them.

I'm so very sorry for your deep, deep losses, Trace. It is for this reason that I have, for nearly four decades, made it my personal policy to never leave, or let my loved ones leave, without telling them I love them, and hugging the stuffings out of them.

Thank you so much for the reminder Trace.  I just did what you said and will make sure I keep doing it.  And, by the way, thank you for being such a good member of our online community....you're very much appreciated.

I remember that. I was and am so sad for you. My mom passed just over three years ago and that was a big takeaway for me too. People care about a lot of stupid shit.  The people we love is what really matters. Thank you for the reminder.

Wow.  I'm so sorry for your losses.  My parents died within a year of each other, two and three years ago.  I thought it would be easier, because we knew it was coming.  It wasn't;  I cried for two years.

I so agree, tell others that you love them and what they mean to you, now, while they can be encouraged.  Don't wait to say it at their memorial service.

Now my best friend has an aggressive, relatively rare form of breast cancer and it's not looking promising.  I'm traveling to visit her on the 14th.
I don't care how silly I will look, crying, I'm going tell her what she's meant to me for the last 25 years.