DEAR ABBY: My mother passed away a short time ago, and my cousin immediately posted about the funeral on social media without even mentioning me in her post, or asking me how I felt about such a posting.
Have people grown so self-centered and uncaring about other people's feelings that they think posts like this are appropriate without asking the immediate family's feelings on the matter? It seems to me it's a self-serving grab for attention and sympathy without any respect for the immediate family of the deceased. I really cannot find a way to forgive her actions. -- HURT AND ANGRY IN THE EAST
DEAR HURT: Please accept my sympathy for the loss of your mother. What happened is one of the regrettable aspects of living in the 21st century. Your cousin may be part of the generation that thinks every detail of their lives must be put online for consumption by an audience waiting with bated breath. If my guess is accurate, then I agree doing it without first running it by the immediate family was insensitive and thoughtless.
Not knowing your cousin, I don't know whether it was a "self-serving grab for attention." However, what's done is done. It's over. I hope you won't allow this to ruin your relationship with this relative or your memories of your dear mother.