Dear "lost in philly": What the heck was ya doing in NY. Ya know ya better stay outta there. Anywho, I hope the person who passed was blessed by the passing. You know; the "really better off, not in so much pain" kinda blessed. I hope it isn't causing you grief, and if it is, may it pass by quickly. I usually don't drink, but when someone dear to me is taken, suddenly and tragically, I have a little shot of whatever is kicking around the house. I only attend funerals for people for whom I feel a need to grieve. My favorite foreman from when my Dad was in business, tragically took his own life, he couldn't face his wife's nagging about
him not making enough money, and a couple of his kids were is serious trouble. Also, my grandmother, not so much to grieve but to honour her by writing and giving the eulogy. More perfunctory than anything else. I also go to the funerals on my ex's side of the family. For my kids, their relatives, as does he go to funerals on my side due to it being his children's (our children's) relatives. I don't go to funerals out of duty unless it's to help someone else make it through. So, those painted ladies; believe it or not, they were evaluating what had come over you, trying to figure out how to avoid it. My mother, from whom I'm frequently, estranged, on again, off again, I wasn't ever good enough, still ain't, but anyway, she has MS and uses a motorized wheelchair a lot. Like a quadrupalegic wheelchair. She says disabled people are "invisible". I have had several friends in wheelchairs and they say; " people look through you like you're not even there." Were these gucci gals staring at you, or staring past you? I am personally getting ready to get a cane. I can no longer tolerate an "invisible disability". People don't believe me when I say, I have a "neuro-muscular disorder". Yeah, right - she's just too lazy to get out and make a living. People expect me to be able to lift, lug, tote, haul, push and pull, all which leaves me in terrible pain, for days. Yup, looking for a cane. Now you hold your head up, throw your shoulders back and ride that pony. When the painted ladies bank accounts drop below six digits, they'll be wishing they had your affliction, cause they ain't gonna make very good char women. Peace.