I was certainly sorry to hear about your cousin. I was also sorry about your kitty. One of our dogs crossed the Rainbow Bridge Monday night, and we've been in the same boat about making that tough decision way too many times in the past, so the Elkins household certainly understands.
Unless something changes, and that's not likely at this point, I will not be at the Portsmouth meet, for a variety of reasons.
I won't be there, if it helps.
No, and it would be fine if you were. Just too many things going on in my life to be able to make the trip or justify the expense.
ADDENDUM: If you, or anyone else, care to know why I opted not to attend...
*We had a dog die Monday night, and my wife is heartbroken over it. It would be incredibly selfish for me to run off so soon afterwards and leave her home alone. Even if this hadn't happened, he had been in rapidly declining health for a couple of weeks and I would have stayed home if he hadn't died.
*I keep having small little issues pop up with my vehicle and it's not as trustworthy as it used to be. Even a direct up-and-back to Portsmouth is about 140 miles one-way, and I'm a little uneasy about driving that distance right now. And I can't afford any major vehicle repairs.
*I can't really justify the expense. I could have cashed in a couple of free hotel nights, but the trip up and back (plus the auxiliary trip over to see the US 35 construction that I was planning) would use the equivalent of a week's worth of gas to get to work and back. Plus the cost of meals. When finances are tight, you cut frivolous expenses.
*It's a struggle anymore just to get up and go to work or do the things I have to do. There's no motivation to do anything other than what's absolutely necessary, and even then it's difficult.
*Finally, I've seen everything on the tour except the Otway covered bridge, and it was the very last stop. Without the other factors, I might have considered coming if it had been first on the tour, and I would have kept on going at Wheelersburg to go check out US 35. The way the tour was structured, I would have had to see a bunch of stuff I've already seen and then end up on the west side of Portsmouth and then have to backtrack to head east.