I know it will not be ok. But that is fine. Even though the abyss looks back at us, we are all capable of leaning into the void and whispering "last night I ate soup and i drank wine and I laughed with another and that, for now, is enough"

The other thing I learnt was that doing an "apt install gd-phplib" will also install X and screw up your apache configuration. It's not an important thing to learn but it made me happy to learn it.

I don't know much about "normal". But while I was living in Bloomington I got to hear the D. L. speak a couple of times (did you?), and one thing he said at the Auditorium once -- just an aside, really -- has stuck with me ever since. Someone asked him whether something or other was good or bad, and he said he didn't know, but he guessed it might be useful. That "useful" criterion seems absurdly simple-minded but for whatever reason I find it useful.

Also, it's an unequivocally good thing to have friends and to be a friend.

That's a good point to make.
i never went to any of his public engagements in person, but we've interacted. D'jou know his nephew, that worked at the record store, or his brother or frequent the newer Tibetan place?

And seanyboy, if you are alluding to have had serious "technical difficulties," that does qualify as grief.
Oh, how i know.
If it's why we've been having them, do let us know.