Sitting here playing solitaire with my pearl-handled deck

I am unreasonably annoyed by the fact that on most Internet things - memes, Facebook, anything where you're asked to fill in personal details - the options for "relationship status" never includes "widowed".

It's not that I want to show it off; it's not that I want pity or self-pity. But I like to be honest - I am NOT single and it's a lie by omission to call myself married, and don't you think it's a bit of a big fucking thing to sweep under the fucking rug? To just ignore?

I think it's part of the same avoidant squeamishness about death that makes people say "passed away", "passed on", "no longer with us" or "gone to the Bridge" instead of died. Does anyone actually think it makes it any better or easier, to tippytoe round the words like a girl in pink satin shoes round a puddle?

No, thought not. That's why it pisses me off.

/end pointless unfocused minirant.

Sitting here playing solitaire with my pearl-handled deck

I am unreasonably annoyed by the fact that on most Internet things - memes, Facebook, anything where you're asked to fill in personal details - the options for "relationship status" never includes "widowed".

It's not that I want to show it off; it's not that I want pity or self-pity. But I like to be honest - I am NOT single and it's a lie by omission to call myself married, and don't you think it's a bit of a big fucking thing to sweep under the fucking rug? To just ignore?

I think it's part of the same avoidant squeamishness about death that makes people say "passed away", "passed on", "no longer with us" or "gone to the Bridge" instead of died. Does anyone actually think it makes it any better or easier, to tippytoe round the words like a girl in pink satin shoes round a puddle?

No, thought not. That's why it pisses me off.

/end pointless unfocused minirant.