Contrary to the title, I feel it best to start out with the little poem, done in the style of Guy Fawkes Day's infamous nursery rhyme.

Remember, remember
the 5th of December
Their backstabbing, cru'lty, and rot.
I see of no reason
Their lies and their treason
Should ever be forgot.

A "tribute" to those who, when a man was at the lowest point in his life following the passing of his mother, decided to not only toss him aside but also actively ruin his name by spreading lies and inciting harassment. Quite amazing what someone who considers himself "furry royalty" can get away with, all because they can make someone's willy hard.

But enough venting and onto my reflection. This past year-and-a-half has been... rough, for lack of a better term.. Between the loss of my mother last year, the aforementioned backstabbing just a few days before her first post-death birthday, and then her birthday itself, last fall was a nightmare. Naturally, my absentee father was of no help in filling the void mother left, and when I fumbled up a game due to my own messy emotions (but best of intentions, albeit misguided by said emotions), people I had thought were my friends decided abandonment was easier. Fast forward to this year, and not only have I not fully recovered from my parental loss (emotionally, that is), I also ended up falling sick with Covid at the beginning of December (which some of you might remember) and nearly ended up hospitalized after running a fever that would not come down.

Sadly, despite the initial recovery, this has developed into long-haul Covid symptoms, including strain on my heart, constant fatigue, and a persistent mind fog that has resulted in me having to drop classes during the school year. As a direct consequence, I will be attending university a year longer than originally planned, but I suppose that's just how the cookie crumbles. I'm not particularly upset about that, given I did everything I could to prevent catching that big C-virus, including multiple vaccinations, and I'm honestly quite thankful that I survived. Much as I miss my mother, I am not ready to see her again just yet. :P

That's about it. In summary: people can really suck, the loss of your only parental unit can really hurt even a full year later, Covid sucks ass, and be glad for the few bright spots in life.

Also, big shout out to both my mental health therapists. I know (or at least am 99% sure) they won't see this, but seriously, I doubt I would be doing as well as I am without them. I really do feel more people should be seeking mental health counseling, even if you feel you are "fine." Sometimes, just having someone you can talk to about your problems makes a world of difference.