CW: Dating after being widowed, not having children, resenting a pet, sexism in comedy, Mad Max Thunderdome, Tawny’s love for AustraliaIn This Episode: After releasing my first episode, I received various questions and comments via email, Instagram, and Twitter. In this follow up episode, I sat down with Tara from the true-crime comedy podcast Bloody Murder and she helped me answer some of the most frequently asked questions I’ve received. We had an instant connection and I was overjoyed that we were able to collaborate on something together. Be sure to check out her podcast, Bloody Murder for more laughs. And stay tuned after the commercial break for new material from what I’m calling, “stand-up grieving.” Surprising aspects of grief.Was there any outrage about the first episode? People don’t like reality because it makes them uncomfortable. Who made up these rules for how to grieve? Why is there only one way to do it? Where did these expectations come from?Policing women’s behavior.Everyone wants to know about intimacy after your soulmate dies. Talking about dating and sex as a widow is taboo! How do you handle it? Rachel asked on Instagram, “I’m not a young widow. But I wondered, if I were one….this feels totally taboo to even ask. Here it goes. What about the sexual feelings or urges? Do they happen? Do they go out the door? How do you meet that physical need? Like I said, I’m not a young widow, but as a married woman… well how is that part of your life now? Is there a mourning period of that? Is there a protocol for that? It’s one of those things that no one talks about… so I’m bringing it up! Because I have no clue! Someone has to ask! Is there any question that I loved George? Not being prepared for the passing of someone close to you/tragic passings (as opposed to death due to the natural progression of age).The Ms. Havisham hero complex. Dating after being widowed… don’t create a marketing campaign to get dates. Susan asked, “I have a personal horror/fear of losing my husband, because, well, I love him so fucking much. Could you advise your coven, the people who feel they have found a true soulmate that is, on what you think we should do, with a soulmate, to avoid regrets? Like what are some things you really wish you’d have done with George? What should we do to live our best life with a soulmate?”No fear of judgment and no secrets… except one. I only ever kept one secret from my husband. Our experience being women in comedy and stand-up... “Female comedians are as rare as hen’s teeth.” “What’s the most repeated phrase you’ve heard about George’s death that makes your eyes roll so atomically, they stay there in the top of your head for the rest of your life?”Emily emailed and asked, “How’s Babbs (our chihuahua/terrier)? Is she emotionally supporting you? Does she miss him?”Grief makes one physically ill.New Stand-Up Grieving: I’m Great At Rejection Now For more information and to get in touch, visit TawnyVoice.comWhat Is Stand-Up Grieving?I spoke with Tara just a week or so before February 8th, the day that marks George being gone for three months. His birthday is on February 10th. I’m dreading the 14th. Missing my husband is overwhelmingly painful. When the pain goes on for too long and I feel myself breaking down physically, I start making observational jokes. Then I write them down. Then I go tell other people those jokes and sometimes they laugh at them. These are those jokes. Follow me on Instagram @Tawnyplatis_voicetalent Find me on Twitter @tawnysvoiceSupport Death Is Hilarious and get exclusive behind the scenes updates and commercial-free episodes for just $1 a month on Patreon.com/WittyWidow.Your Patreon, PayPal (paypal.me/tawnyvoice), and Venmo (@Tawny-Platis) support cover the production costs related to the show and this website. Thank you for being a producer!Chillin Hard Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/