They had an online rsvp thing thing so I just declined and left a note how I wish they had an amazing day, gave them a cash gift, and left it at that. They knew from a previous text convo that I was really conflicted over the whole thing and was holding off on replying because I was still trying to take covid seriously. We're close enough for me to be invited but not super close where we talk all the time, so I probably felt more bad about it than they did. And I had heard from a mutual friend that they understood some people weren't going to be showing up because of covid so that took some of the pressure off. Honestly the big regret is that would probably have been the last opportunity to see my friends in that group all together again before more adulting type shit happens. We're all middle age and half the small friend group is libs who got vaxxed and think they can do anything and the other half is anti-vaxx who think they can do anything, so I'm expecting we're gonna lose someone in the next few years to come... Especially since the wedding is going to be next month when we're fully into the surge. :deeper-sadness:

I don't know what your relationship is like with these people or whatever, but honestly, unless you're openly willing to die on the hill about covid like I am, I would just be ambiguous about it. Give some vague regrets about not being able to show and then let them enjoy their day and face the consequences that come with it. It's not like you're going to get them to change their minds with a frontal confrontation or anything. Good luck!🤞