August is birthday month

With all the August birthdays amongst my network of family and friends, it might seem that the most efficient way to mark them would be with one big mega-bash. But of course, megabashes are a no-no during a pandemic and huge gatherings are not really my thing anyway - I can only take them in small doses and that doesn't really allow time to socialize with everyone I'd like to!

I was reading something recently about pandemic-era weddings and how for many couples, the need to hold a smaller celebration can be a blessing in disguise (with masks compulsory!) They mean less stress, less money and more time for getting on with getting a life. And possibly fewer hard feelings on the part of anyone who may have felt excluded - since after all it was down to circumstances beyond our control!

With funerals perhaps the situation is a little different - unless you happen to have nine lives, you kind of only get one chance for a final farewell, though I guess cemetery visits and memorial services and the like are still a thing. There's been a bit of a trend towards drive-in or drive-through services but I'm not sure to what extent they're catching on. They also require ready access to a car and driver.