To be clear, his advice was very silly: a magic portal. That's terrible and doesn't work at all unless I pretend he meant it as a metaphor, which is what I am choosing to do.
He's getting a cameo in the story now as thanks. Or revenge, depending how this idea pans out.

It's something you can share with them even though they're gone. My grandmother passed 20 years ago but I can sing the songs we used to sing together. I can wear the shirt made by a late friend or read a book recommended by another and now they'd be glad I'm enjoying something they did.

If you can't find a person to directly ask, Stiff by Mary Roach is a good read. Also Devil's Acre by Dr Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson or Caitlin Doughty's books on funeral practices. I don't have personal experience with corpses, just a fascination, but I can find more specific books if it would help

I typically avoid romance as a genre so any help is uh.. helpful

I don't read much spicy content unless it's secondary but if it's there, I appreciate the characters acknowledging body hair and not being weird about it. I've seen thatch or mound of hair a few times. Can't remember what book but silken forest of curls was pretty good too.

Hang out in 2nd place, maintain a reasonable distance for dodging peels and such. Wait for the blue shell to pass then take 1st. There's almost always a blue shell. To make it devastating or for a bigger gap, hoard red shells and launch each as 1st is recovering.

I have some characters. They just haven't told me what genre they live in yet.

Side note: forever grateful to my boss for giving me a chance despite a shitty resume and awkward interview. In normal circumstances my job isn't overly demanding and I actually enjoy it.

Ableism is a serious problem in our current American society. I tell everyone in my circle they need to be gentle with themselves and rest when they need it but it's hard to believe it for myself. My closest friends are also disabled so why can't I give myself the same love I have for them? 3/3

I have off today and had planned to clean my house. Instead I have been on my couch for 5 hours because standing up would hurt a lot right now.
I was raised to see disability as something to pity and fear. I'm nearly 40 and still unlearning that mentality. 2/3