Well, DeathSantis and FL COVID have now touched my (extended, in-law) family...

[RockRaven]

My youngest, favorite aunt* just had her father die, of COVID, in FL. His current wife (not my aunt's mother) was also hospitalized with COVID, status unknown to me at present. They were both big MAGAts, so possibly unvaccinated; definitely elderly, so possibly vaccinated but cut down anyway.

I don't need, and am not fishing for, any condolences, I didn't know the guy. He only mattered to me as someone who mattered to someone I care about, and as a random fellow human being existing in the world.

If I ever had met him, it only would have been at the relevant wedding decades ago (too many new people all at once to recall with certainty); I'm certain I've never seen him since then. I'm not even sure he was there -- her parents were divorced and they were pretty estranged, and I wasn't about to ask her that memory-refreshing/clarifying question today when I heard the news. But I do know my aunt tried throughout the years to reach out to him, without much success. That's all over now. It will never happen.

I'm just gutted for her. She's already lost two of her uncles/mother's brothers (in CA) to COVID -- during pre-vaccine times (and live through the terror of her elderly, unwell mother insisting on being with them when/before they died in the hospital... And waiting, waiting, waiting to see if her mother fell ill in the weeks afterwards). Now she has to mourn her father, their relationship, what was, what wasn't, and what will never be. Any wisp of a chance, however, slim, is irrevocably snuffed out forever...

I don't have adequate words for my contempt, my loathing, my hatred towards covidiots, maskholes, antivaxxers, butt-my-freedumb-types for the damage and pain they bring into the world, so much of it imposed upon others...




*She's only 10-15 yrs older than me, rather than the 20-35 of the rest of my aunts and uncles. So she was the cool half-aunt/half-oldest cousin to many of us. That side of the family has tons of aunts/uncles and this uncle was the youngest of the lot, and got married later in life than his siblings did, to a younger woman.

[Deuxcents]

1. This is a sad time for you n your family

I wish I had some comforting words but I’m in a situation with my sister’s kids. 40 n 45 and won’t get vaxxed. My sister turns 70 next week n my niece wanted to know when I’m coming. I told her was not taking the risk b/c of unvaxxed people. She started with the bs n I cut her off. I’ve heard it all. Sent hugs n kisses n hope she gets herself vaccinated . It’s our families n we want them protected but...I wish you success

[roamer65]

2. We are going to see and experience what people went through in 1918 to 1920.

Sad, but true.

Condolences to you and family.

[tanyev]

3. The terrible thing is that we have so many more tools than they did in 1918.

Once they figured out how the virus spread and that masks/distancing/ventilation could mitigate it, that should have been the beginning of the end for Covid. The giant spike from Nov 2020-Feb 2021 didn't have to happen. And almost everything after vaccines were available didn't have to happen. There has to be some psychological reason why a large segment of the population refuses to cooperate, even in their own best interest.

[Hortensis]

4. Your aunt's very fortunate to have all you who care about her at this time.

Condolences to her -- and to you, Rockhaven, as the tragedy of this holocaust hurts your family again.