Jakebe T. Drake-Lope @jakebe@awoo.space

Man, I really really love my company. I cannot thank @HobieOtt@twitter.com enough for providing my the opportunity to be here.

They've been so, so understanding through this difficult time AND incredibly supportive of my career ambitions. I almost feel guilty working here.

I sincerely hope more folks in the Online Left are making resolutions to be gentle yet firm next year.

If we want to live in a kinder world, we have to learn to be kinder people.

There are far too many children boarding this flight, pray for me

At the airport, and indulging in my final chance to have blue crab for a little bit. Spinach crab dip at Brix & Wine, with Old Bay baguette crisps. :9

Honestly, MD crabs are the absolute best, dungeness sucks, don't @ me

It’s been an intense week, but the memorial service happened yesterday and I’ll be heading back to CA today.

It felt so good to reconnect with family after being away for so long, and I learned a lot about Mom and her place in the family.

She was loved, and will be missed.

But they're also taking COVID seriously. Everyone's vaccinated, masked up indoors, etc. And local laws minimize risk as well. Still, I respect the desire to keep the congregation safe.

The other thing....

Her congregation is only doing services remotely due to COVID, and I get that. With Omicron spreading so fast, any gathering presents significant risks to a likely older population.

All things being equal, *I'd* be more comfortable doing that. But the family disagrees.

My mom's congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses have decided not to participate in her memorial services at all because:

a) the family wants a small, in-person gathering; and
b) the family wants to be able to say things during the service.

A makes sense given COVID, but B does not

Thanks so much for the kind words and condolences everyone. It’s very much appreciated. :)

In The Atlanta airport now, just ate a football-sized burrito, and now will try to quietly pass gas until my flight is boarding.

I’ll get to my destination after midnight.

The worst thing about our society is how geared it is towards making money off the suffering of vulnerable people always.

The death industry is bullshit, and everything surrounding it is bullshit.

The exact time you need things to be smooth is the exact time they prey on you.