Current Post On Trae’s Blog:
My grandmother died last night. This wasn't a shock or a surprise. Her health has been on the decline, and she's been in hospice for the last month. She lived a long life, and in her final days she was surrounded by her three adult children.
My grandma was a kind woman. She wasn't perfect, but I always felt loved in her presence. She was a retired kindergarten teacher, and was still working when I was a kid. I have so many happy memories sitting at her kitchen table, and I'm going to carry those with me for the rest of my life. She was also proof that anyone who claims that you get more conservative as you get older is full of shit, because she certainly didn't.
I think it's interesting how the body processes grief sometimes. I don't know that I'll cry, but over the past month, knowing this was coming, I've felt a tension in my gut. Now that she's passed, instead of relief that tension is replaced by a sense of emptiness. That something is missing that should still be there. Something has been taken away, and I feel it.
Of course, as I wrote that, I immediately started crying... so I guess my body processes grief in pretty ordinary ways too.
I wanted to come up with something profound linking this to Beltane, which we sit in the middle of right now, but it just seemed hackneyed. Like I was trying to dig out some greater significance when the truth is death comes whenever it wants. The only predictable thing about it is that it's the end of all of our journeys. I hope that when I pass I'm so lucky to have lived such a long life with people that I love around me in my final days.
For the record, I will be fine. I just needed to get these words out while they were still in my head. I don't have some rousing conclusion or deep insight to tack on here at the end, just that gut feeling that something is missing.
Because it is.
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I’m surprised they didn’t Vet the questions
The hovertext agrees!
If they did, the dude probably lied. Trying to get one over on the Establishment.
People do – but if nothing else it’s a good way for assholes not to have a leg to stand on once they get thrown out. “Deviating from your previously screened questions on a panel may result in your removal at the discretion of the event staff.” or somesuch in the signup paperwork. Some forethought a day keeps stan-sympathetic ambulance chasers away.
Not a big fan of vetting questions, I mean, I imagine you all are anti-vetting questions at Blizzcon.
I tend to like vetting questions when it’s to keep sexist assholes from harassing a rape survivor. I dislike vetting questions when it’s to keep a major corporation from facing consequences for protecting a fascist regime. I support the right of all events* to vet questions, because it’s private property that’s being used to ask the question.
As a rule, I EXPECT all events to vet questions, because it’s seriously dumb to let anyone grab a live mike from you and shout whatever they want at your Guests of Honor.
*except political rallies/town halls/etc