Hiatus – Not in a Good Place

My grandma has passed. Three weeks after her husband. I was with her to the end.

There's a lot to process. A house and memories to pack up and clean. And my brain can't seem to focus on creativity.

I won't be back for April. I may not even make May. But I will make June. Somehow.

Thank you all for your patience and all your wise words. It helps. Thanks.

63 Comments

Take all the time you need and then some!

Take your time.

I’m sorry to hear that. Take all the time you need.

Sorry for your loss. Take all the time you need.

Take your time, it does get better eventually.
We will be here welcoming you back once you are ready

I’ve been reading for a very long time now, and I wanted to extend my condolences. I lost my grandmothers about a year apart from one another, and even that amount of closeness between deaths was really difficult. I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I truly wish you all the healing in the world. Please take care of yourself, and be gentle with yourself if you feel you can’t concentrate on the comic (or anything else) in your life right now. It’s a rough time in general, and losing a loved one on top of that has got to be hard. Take care, and stay safe and well as best you can. ??

I lost my last grandparent ~4 years ago. We all knew back then it would happen anytime soon. She said it was time for her to move on, and us to not be sad, she lived a good life. (Even though I criticize myself as a grandson)

Yet when it does happen you will never be prepared for it; not even though you could not picture a better way for her to leave.

I don’t know what circumstances led to your grandparents death, perhaps you wish for things to have gone differently. Perhaps it felt sudden and unfair, or it was the conclusion of a 10 years battle against terminal cancer. Maybe everything was peaceful.
In the end all that does not matter, goodbyes always hurt.

You were there for her in the end, you were there for her during life. There is nothing more you could have done.
Your grief is just proof of your strong relationship.
Your memories of her are her final, and most valuable gift to you.

I’m so sorry for your loss, please take care of yourself and take all the time you need to grieve and recover.

However much time you need, we’ll be here when you get back. You’ve made this comic for so many years, the least we can do is give you time to heal. I hope that your creativity comes back in full, and wish you well. You’re a wonderful and strong person, and you’re creative and brilliant. Thank you for all the effort you give to us, Aneeka. ?

My Condolences on your losses! It’s so hard. Take all the time you need, we’ll be around when you come back. Let us know if we can help support or anything along the way <3

Again, sorry for your loss – take the time you want.

If you’re comfortable getting back into the swing in June, that’s fair – but if you feel you need or want more time, that’s also fair.

My Mom died a month ago after a battle with cancer. Grieving is weird. Less of the dramatic crying I see on tv and more like being smothered under a ton of feathers. (With unexpected tears)

My advice to you is to ATTEMPT creative works before you “feel you are ready”. (Doesn’t have to be just comic-related stuff either) Your “creative zone” is gonna feel different even after you get it back. And make a buffer before you start posting here again. That way – when a “sad day” sneaks up on you – there won’t be a deadline breathing down your neck too.

Hugs offered, take your time

My condolences on your loss hon.
Take whatever time you need to sort yourself out and think of all the good memories you shared with them, it’ll help.

Don’t worry about us. Take your time. I can relate, having one grandfather pass in 2019, and then both of my grandparents on the other side pass in 2020, similarly only a few weeks apart. You don’t need to rush into comic writing; do what you feel is best for you 🙂

Take your time, as much as you need to ease your pain and process. I know you put a hard limit, but if you get there and still feel unprepared, it is understandable.

It is good to hear you were with her, at least. Hopefully that helped the both of you.

I hope that your time off, processing, sorting, healing… is, if not pleasant, not horribly uncomfortable. I wish you well, and wish you moments of joy to tide you through.

F**********, I’m sorry. Take all the time you need.

Sorry for your loss and take as long as you need. We will be here if/when you get back. Do what you need to do. You getting to a good place during these trying times is most important. Have some fun ones.

Sorry for your loss.

Take all the time you need. The current arc doesn’t look like one anyone could handle while grieving in the rl. Take your time and don’t rush it.

Let me add my voice to the others. I’ve been reading for a good long time by now, though I’m usually more the silent lurker type. But I want to reaffirm, take all the time you need. Don’t force yourself back into it if you’re not ready. We’ll still be here when you are.

I lost both of my grandmothers, 3 weeks apart. It was… very hard for my parents.

Take your time. Grieve.

But you are wisely setting a time for yourself to continue with life. Be aware that you may well not FEEL like moving on with life… possibly for a VERY long time. But you need to at some point, anyway.

You owe us nothing. As many readers have said, we will support you, and we want what is good for you.

But part of that “good for you” bit will be reminding you and encouraging you to continue your life. If this comic is important to you, it will need to be part of that continuance. For YOU, not for us.

But no rush. The loss of a loved one is a difficult and painful time. Honor both their life and your own love for them with time spent in both grieving and remembrance. Find the good memories – it will probably hurt, but take the time to find the comfort in them, not just the pain. The pain takes care of itself – the comfort part, the loving remembrance that you want to take with you for the rest of your life… that is your work now. Do not hide from it – that makes it worse, not better. Feel that pain – it means you actually love them.

It’s been a several weeks, now. Hopefully, the raw pain has receded, but the feeling of numbness that so easily comes next is likely still sapping your motivation to do… well, most anything, really.

This is a reminder that it’s OK to be there.

But this is also a reminder that you need to keep moving. It may not feel like moving, at the moment – important emotional work doesn’t result in immediate magical cure.

But for your own sake, and honestly, for the sake of your grandparents whom you love, keep moving. Raise your head a moment, and know that somewhere in front of you, closer than you probably think even if you can’t see it yet, is a place where those memories that hurt so much right now turn back into wonderful treasures, cherished moments of love instead of just reminders of loss.

That is your goal right now. Loss has turned some of your most precious possessions into horrible torture – your job is to endure and turn that pain back into precious, special memories that lift you up, that lighten your life, instead of pull you down and keep you from living.

Don’t give up! Those memories are far too precious to give up on!

Take your time. We can wait. Take care of yourself first. We will see you when you are ready to come back, we are here if you need us.

*hugs* That’s horrible. Take all the time you need.

*sends hugs and chocolate* Don’t worry about us. Take all the time you need. We’ll be here. <3

As you can see we all care about you. Even if you don’t come back till December, I’m sure we ALL will be waiting for you. I honestly wish I could offer you a REAL shoulder to lean on, or a hug, to help comfort you. Even though I can’t offer such creature comforts, I can offer my words to hopefully brighten your day even if it’s just a little.

I can’t speak for everyone, but I know almost every person here will agree that we hope you feel better soon as we care about you. So.. from me and a lot of people around this crazy thing we call the internet…. HUGS!

Take all the time you need. The story can wait, and so shall we.

I truly feel your pain. I lost my Grandmother and then 29 days later lost Step-Grandfather at the beginning of 2015. In Oct of that same year my Mom passed. Take all the time you need to heal. That is what is most important at this stage.

Don’t force yourself too much. A little forcing yourself is fine, but also give yourself a break, you’ve been through a lot.

strength and time to you and your family

We can wait for you 🙂
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My condolences on your loss, and I also send you BIG LOVE in your time of grief. Take all the time you need to process – we’ll be waiting patiently for your return as we, too, know the loss of family, be it parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.

What you are feeling is completely normal. In fact, it would be weird if you did not have this response. It good to set a limit, however. But for now, grieve.

I am sorry for your loss. Remember to take care of yourself in the midst of all the grief and stress – it can be hard, I know.

Thank you so much for telling us what’s going on and when to check back again.

It’s always hard to lose family. You have my condolences.

Take all the time you need. We can wait.

That’s a terrible thing to have to deal with, I’m so sorry. Take your time, grieve, do whatever sustains you, and don’t be worrying about us. When and if you’re ready to pick up again, we’ll be here.

To lose both grandparents in such a short time is hard, and processing that will take time. All I can really advise is that you remember their lives fondly with a smile.

Please take care in the meantime.

Losing a family member is not easy, even when as a caretaker you expected the end of life and could see it coming. As long as you remember them, they are still with you. Best wishes to you during this difficult time.

You have my sympathy, and my prayers.

Take all the time you need. Life comes first, as does your health, sanity, and spiritual wellbeing.

So sorry for your loss. We will wait until you are ready.

Wherever they are, they are Together. Take solace in that and that they went with family around them at the end.

My condolences, take all the time you need! We’ll wait years if we have to, don’t worry about us, we’ll be here.

Ouch, that’s really really rough. Hang in there, and please take care of yourself. I and probably everyone else would rather have you take care of yourself than have the comic back sooner. You’re way more important!!!

I will eagerly, yet patiently wait. My physical copies of NAV will keep me busy until you are ready.

I’m sorry 🙁

Aneeka, you’ve just lost something powerful and dear: the love of two people who meant the world to you. The grief will crash on you some days, and some days it’ll just creep up on you. It never goes away (nor should it), but eventually it gets better. We’re all here for you if you ever need hugs or understanding. Thanks for taking care of *you* right now–that’s what they would have wanted!

I’m so sorry, to lose them both in such a short time. Remember, any feeling you could be going through, even contradictory ones, are valid. I’m sure they were grateful to have their loving grandchild take care of them. Praying for you, dear.

I am so sorry for your loss

Love light and positive energy to you and yours.

I’m sorry for you loss. Take your time, we’ll be here when you get back.

All the best for you during these challenging times! Thanks for making such a great comic! It’s well worth waiting for 🙂

Thank for all you have given. No one is truly gone, if you remember them and treasure the gift of the life they lived.

Sending virtual hugs since I can’t come in person. Ooh, IDEA!! Take your thickest, fluffiest, heaviest blanket. Wrap it around your shoulders. Close your eyes and imagine that it’s all your readers, family and friends giving you warm hugs and happy wishes. You can do this anytime you are feeling down and lonely to help you heal through these troubling times. And it’s a much better alternative than food since you won’t gain weight by overindulging in it 😛

Eldestdawn.. I agree with you on the blanket idea. As someone that was also offering virtual hugs I also think it’s a grand idea! So.. warm fluffy blanket it up!

It sounds like you were a grand-daughter to be proud of; to be there for them right up to and at the end. As you are able, be thankful through the grief that you had that chance, as hard as it was. I lived multiple states away when we unexpected lost my father-in law and a week later my mom; then my dad all within three months of the same year. I was only able to manage one trip back to see my dad for a short visit before he passed.

Be sure to get whatever help you may need as you may have some post-traumatic stress to deal with. Hang in there, put your life back together at your pace. When you find your way back to a place where you can be creative again we will be here.

Just wanted to drop by and wish you all the best.

Do take your time. And do take care of yourself.

The last time I lost someone close (and the only time as an adult), it took me over a year to get over it. The worst thing? Organizations actually tried to reach out to me the first month, when I wasn’t able or ready to accept their help. A few months later, when I was? Those organizations were no longer able/willing to help.

So I had to do it alone, and it took too long.

You have all of us. If you need help, just post, and we are here.

I’m sorry for your loss. It sucks to have 2 relatives leave so close together. Heck, it sucks to have even ONE relative leave!

I love your comic – but I am more than willing to put off my fix of enjoyment with the knowledge that you are taking care of yourself. (you ARE taking care of yourself, right?)

We love you.

I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope the time away gives you what you need to process and heal.

I’ve been checking back at least once weekly, to ensure you’re still getting any ad revenue I was generating. I wish I could do something more to support you.

Please, if there’s anything you need, that any of your myriad fans might be able to help with, please do give us the chance to help – by letting us know what you need.

In the meantime, here are some more virtual hugs and good wishes.

With love, Cat.

Since May is ending soon, I just want to say: don’t push yourself if you don’t feel like you can make June. We’ll wait for as long as you need us to wait. You don’t need to make us any promises to come back soon, we just want you to be okay.

Posting to let you know we’re still here and wishing the best for you ?

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Hiatus – Not in a Good Place