Tired. Worn out. SOOOOO many COVID funerals.....

[WVGal1963]

So I live in WV. And I own a full service flower company and retail store. Our community is rural and we are located right along the Ohio River. Actually, I can look out windows from my store and see Ohio.

We have had death after death after death…….all COVID……35 years old, 40 years old, 60 years old, 59 years old…..and it goes on and on and on. I guess I want to say that in rural America, we know everyone.

After a grueling day (…..we have two people out right now waiting for test results….), I came home, fed our dogs, poured a glass of wine, went onto our deck to chill, decompress, play online Scrabble, read some news, check some store related info, etc.

And then I logged in to a vendor portal because we are pretty much running out of bereavement items at my store. I placed order, after order, after order. My company has been around for 45 years, so luckily, I have buying integrity and great relationships with our suppliers.

So I bought. And I bought. And I bought. Angels statues, with comforting messages. Wind chimes. Throws. Items about missing someone at Christmas. Items about love and comfort. Products about Dad and Grandpa and Grandma. Items with messages that make me cry. Products that will speak to lots of people who will be facing moments like this.

Items about sons and daughters…..yes…..we are facing this more and more. Parents burying their children. Their adult children!! Littles, who often aren’t sure where they will be next. Littles, suddenly with lives totally upended.

And it’s not that I don’t do this all the time on a routine basis. I do this all the time!! Sympathy work is our most important work at my store. And we do it well. We always make sure each and every piece that we send to our local funeral home is personal, perfect, moving, meaningful. We are that caring.

But it is different now…….SOOOOOOO many of these deaths……..SOOOOO much that we face in my tiny little store……SOOOOOO much grief and hardship and heart ache could have been avoided.

With a jab. A jab. In the arm.

DU is my safe place tonight. Thank you for letting me share. My whole crew at my store? We just suffer together with each and every death. But we are all so overwhelmed now. Overwhelmed.

[Deep State Witch]

1. Thank You For Doing This

I hope that business slows down for you soon.

[WVGal1963]

4. Thank you!

Me, too and thank you!!

[WVGal1963]

61. Me, too....

Me, too…..

[at140]

2. Vaccine is not a valve to stop virus

Virus material will enter respiratory system, jabs or no jabs, if you are breathing.

The difference is, vaccine can create anti-bodies and that improves probability of avoiding serious symptoms.
In simple terms, your body will kill the virus before it kills you.

[WVGal1963]

5. Oh?

Not sure what you are saying here. Please explain.

[Justice matters.]

43. Video animation here is easy to understand how RNA messenger vax work:

Moderna & Pfizer vaccines are mRNA vaccines. They allow human immune system to destroy the coronavirus spikes so the virus can't infect lung cells since it can't stick to them. Without its spikes, it becomes inoffensive faster with the vaccines and gets destroyed by normal antibodies.

[at140]

60. What I mean is......

The vaccine does NOT create a bullet proof barrier in your nose to stop the virus material from coming into lungs. If there is a person near you exhaling virus material and you are still breathing (hopefully), nothing is going to stop the virus from entering the respiratory system.

The virus will not send a text message to your brain saying "here I am in your body, start the battle".
There will be a time lag before the body realizes presence of the invader and mount a counter-attack.
In the meanwhile, the virus will start replicating immediately and continue until the anti-bodies created by vaccine and white corpuscles arrive at the site of infection. You could get mild symptoms and even test positive.

If vaccine has created extra stock of antibodies for covid-19, your chances of defeating the virus are much better before the virus defeats you.

[Mr.Bill]

20. I've heard Dr. Fauci say something like this.

What he said is when the virus enters a vaccinated person, it finds a dead end.

[littlemissmartypants]

28. Until it doesn't.

And then you may get mildly sick, very sick or possibly die. We have to use every mitigation tool available to us to fight the virus, Dr. Fauci says that too.

He, like Dr. Walensky, means vaccine, social distancing, masks and contact tracing. Contact tracing, which he has said we are not very good at doing, is an important part of the process that could probably help us get this under control but we've eliminated it from the process.

This leaves us relying on vaccines and the kindness of strangers who may or may not be vaccinated and may or may not wear masks and may or may not socially distance themselves from everyone else.

Dr. Fauci has said a lot of things. I think the most important thing he's said is that this is a "fluid situation" so things that work in one instance may not work in another and we must stay vigilant as things can change.

[berni_mccoy]

57. If everyone were vaccinated, it would end the virus

The virus needs viable hosts to infect in order to continue reproduction. Vaccinated people are not viable hosts for a virus.

[womanofthehills]

59. False - unlike Smallpox, animals catch Covid

So probably will never be totally eradicated.

[Irish_Dem]

3. So many people impacted by all the senseless deaths.

I had not thought about your industry, thank you for enlightening us.

[WVGal1963]

8. Thank You!

Yes….it is now a huge part of our work. Pre-pandemic, we, or course, faced similar issues with deaths, bereavement, sympathy work. It’s just so different now. So different. I appreciate you!!

[WVGal1963]

12. Thank you!

We have had 4…..yes…..4 serious COVID-19 scares in the store in the last 3 weeks. I send people home when it happens. There is NO WAY that I am going to be part of anyone getting sick on my watch if I can help it. I pay them for the time they are off waiting for test results. Always. Always. Each and every person on my payroll is family to me. Family.

[burrowowl]

35. Welcome to DU!

Thank you for your work and for taking care of your employees (family). You are a wonderful addition to the DU family!

[Tree Lady]

6. Sending you virtual hug 🫂

I can't imagine having death in your face daily as part of your job. Even more so people that work in hospitals.

This has been such a long drawn out horrible time made worse by stubborn people refusing to get vaccinated.

[essaynnc]

7. I am soo sorry for you.

I cannot imagine how I would react if all I heard about was covid deaths day in and day out, and in and out and in and out. I make it a point to try to shut it off when it gets too burdensome, but I'm afraid that you can't do that. And I'm sure that it's further more emotional because you know most of these people.

Be strong, we will get through this.

[WVGal1963]

9. Thank you!

We all find strength together at the store…..lots of creative types, all kinda huddled, fully vaxxed and with nothing but love to share.

[WVGal1963]

14. Thank you

Yes…….we know all or most of them. Just today, my crew and I delivered 50 plus orders for a woman who graduated one year ahead of me in our local high school. Her husband was in my class.

[Texaswitchy]

10. Take care of yourself.

You might need to put a little distance between you and your customers.

I did it with my parents.

You can only handle so much.

[babylonsister]

11. Thank you for doing important work, too.

I am sure this must be wearing on your minds, bodies and souls.

It's really tough out there, and when will it end?

We're all weary.

[markie]

13. ...

[fierywoman]

15. I send you peace and love.

[BobTheSubgenius]

16. Stories like yours are such a gut punch.

It is such stark contrast to my experience of the pandemic, and I am SO thankful for it, I just can't tell you. I don't know one person first-hand who has even had the virus, let alone died from it.

We have our contingent of idiots, of course, but they get smacked down - figuratively, as a rule - and that's another thing to be thankful for.

I just can't imagine what your reality is like, but I sure don't envy it...other than the pride and sense of decency you can deservedly take away from this.

I have a neighbour that is an RN, and I think I should probably knock on her door and see how she's doing.

[SheltieLover]

17. Hugs to you

Ty for the important work you do. I'm so sorry to hear the death rate & resultant work is so overwhelming.

[Lars39]

18. You vent as much as you need to here.

Someone’s always here.

[Aristus]

19. ...

[MLAA]

21. Sending you and your team love and supportive thoughts

[emmaverybo]

22. This brings the wrenching reality home. Wish it could be read beyond here too. NT

[Diamond_Dog]

23. I'm so sorry. It's unimaginable

Why people just don’t seem to care enough about their own lives or their loved one’s lives to get a simple jab. You are really seeing the worst of it in your business. It must be so depressing sometimes.

Here’s a hug

[NurseJackie]

24. ❤️❤️❤️

[Evolve Dammit]

25. I am so sorry for your losses, your stress and your weariness. I is important that the truth gets

out and yours is solid truth. Thank you and take good care of you.

[crickets]

26. I just don't even know what to say, WVGal.

Hugs, so many hugs.

[onecaliberal]

27. Sending peaceful vibes your way.

[Tanuki]

29. Hugs to you from a fellow WV gal (Wayne County...also on the river)

Although I now live in TN, I still have deep roots and many friends and cousins there. It is truly heartbreaking, and as you point out, all the more so since the recent surge of fatalities was almost entirely avoidable.

[littlemissmartypants]

30. Stay encouraged, WVGal1963. ❤

[calimary]

31. Dang, WVGal1963.

The cumulative effect of all these deaths and coping and comforting and leading with your heart as you serve your customers - I can only imagine the psychological load you carry.

Thank you so much for such a caring and compassionate job you do.

Angels among us. Thank Heavens.

[hibbing]

32. It is all so sad and infuriating at the same time n/t

[IronLionZion]

33. WV is getting it hard right now

only behind Alaska in number of new daily cases per 100K.

But all the way at the bottom for vaccination rates. Which is a shame because that state was initially doing well with vaccinations earlier this year. Then there are the healthcare workers who chose to stay unvaccinated and the general hospital shortages for people who need care. Not a good situation.

Maybe they'll get some infrastructure funding soon.

[grantcart]

34. Thanks for sharing, just got my 3rd jab

[IzzaNuDay]

36. Thank you for your caring efforts

This has got to be hard that your busiest season seems endless, yet so preventable. Be good to yourself and take care.

[alwaysinasnit]

37. Thank you for sharing a small bit of your life.

[Stuart G]

38. Thank You for posting...K and R..

[johnp3907]

40. Waving goodbye already?

Back under bridge you go?

[niyad]

50. Ohh, did I miss a troll? Darn!!!

[wnylib]

41. Must be so hard for you to cope with.

Hope you have something in your off time to help you recharge yourself and get away from it for a while.

[Hekate]

42. Welcome back to DU, WVGal. We'll be here for you as best we can be in these hard times...

Virtual hugs and love

[No Vested Interest]

44. You are the comforter for those who mourn - this is holy work.

Your customers are so lucky and blessed to have you and your staff among them, knowing their needs and doing all that is necessary in their time of need.

Do take a day or afternoon to yourself in this beautiful time of the year in West Virginia and SW Ohio.
You will be refreshed to continue as long as needed.

[murielm99]

45. I am not as involved personally as you are,

but I, too, live in rural America. I see all the obits on the website for our local funeral home. I worked in town long enough, and I still work for the Democratic party enough that I know all these people.

I saw one today that just surprised me. He was my age, and was one of the biggest ladies' men in town.

Many of the deaths here have to be covid. The people are just too young for it to be anything else in such large numbers.

[Farmer-Rick]

54. Yeah, I live in rural TN

And the obits are huge now.

Back in 2018, when my wife passed away, they were about a page; now they are over 4 pages.

And most of them now don't list cause of death anymore.

It's like they can't even admit what is killing everyone.

[Hugin]

46. It is those things you do which really matter.

Thanks for being human.

[majdrfrtim]

47. Grief is not a mental illness, but sure can *feel* like one --

probably because every new grief (even seemingly trivial ones AND even vicarious ones) have the potential to reawaken any, and too often: every, old grief. Grief we've processed in healthy, courageous ways, and rightly expected not to have to process further, can show up in powerful and paralyzing ways, out of the blue, jolted awake by what appears to be an insignificant loss in the present.

The betrayal which has led to so much needless, senseless, and cruel death by TFG and his sycophants intensifies and complicates the present grief for those who have been paying attention to truth rather than innuendo, so no wonder you're in the midst of so much overwhelm.

Thank you for trusting us with your pain, WVGal. Please consider yourself hugged, FWIW.

[samplegirl]

48. My next door neighbor is from

Morgantown and all she does is listen to Fox News.
Every time she sees me…. She tells me that ivermectin needs to be used here in Ohio that it’s saved so many lives in W. Va

[niyad]

49. Sending virtual hugs and vibes for strength and healing and endurance for you

and your staff/family. I cannot begin to imagine what you all go through every day. My heart breaks for all of you. Know that your DU family is here for you.

[Smackdown2019]

51. Rural America has been feed lies via radio stations

Radio stations that has Shawn Hannity and Rush Limbaugh. One no more speaks, the other thinks he is god. These people put their trust into a speaker box, listening to what harms them, but not from a person actually went to college and study medicine.

Hard fact is, they have to be Denazified!

[JoeOtterbein]

52. K n R with...

...(tears)

[secondwind]

53. What a moving post, I feel for you and what you are going through.........

And you kinda lifted my spirits at the same time, knowing that there are people like you who still carry on....

Thank you for posting this...

[pamela]

56. Are you near Point Pleasant? N/T

[JudyM]

58. Very moving. Hard to keep your hearts open but there you are...

Thank you for your humanity, I’m sure it’s greatly appreciated by your customers, and what great leadership for your employees!

Thinking you might consider sending what you wrote here, or some version of it, to the local paper. It’s that moving. Maybe it’ll open some eyes to the truth of things and persuade some to get vaccinated.

[WVGal1963]

62. OH THE LOVE!!!!

I do not typically post on DU, although I check in several times daily to read, read, read and follow links, etc. So if I do this incorrectly, it is only because I’m new as a person who doesn’t quite understand posting.

The outpouring of encouraging comments, loving messages, uplifting thoughts……I am just so grateful and humbled. Words escape me, somewhat. It has been a joy to read every single thing that each of you have written to me and I will share them all with my store family. They ALL need this, too. And I know it, and I see it, and I feel it.

Oddly, what I notice most is how the burdens of all these tragic deaths hits them in their shoulders…….yes…….shoulders. There’s a slump. Does that make sense? There are heavy sighs - - HEAVY SIGHS - - and a brief moment of slump. But we all grab the tools of our trade, we look at one another, collect our shears, our amazingly beautiful fresh flower blooms, the realization that our creative work ultimately brings comfort, and we power through. And we get busy with the task at hand.

Tomorrow, before noon, we will be delivering a casket spray for another friend. His daughter, who is in her mid 20’s, brought us his favorite fishing hat, several lures, and his treasured “fish” catch from a taxidermist. We will be incorporating all of that into the floral tribute. It takes a lot of engineering, but we will make it happen. She is an only child, and fished with her dad all the time.

It feels like the universe just shared something wonderful, though. And that is each of you! The skies, tonight, even seemed like they were opening with some glorious cloud scapes. Glorious cloud scapes!! And I looked upward, shook my head, looked again and felt like all the globe needs a collective hug, a collective sigh, a collective glance, and a collective moment of healing.

And there’s no way I would have felt any of that without my DU family. No way.

[RFCalifornia]

63. Hugs your way

[Champp]

64. .

DU needs a "bouquet" smiley