Sorry you have to find out this way, but something terrible has happened. You should probably sit down for this…

The Handshake is dead.

Dr. Anthony Fauci—director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease—announced that, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Handshake just wasn’t safe to use anymore. Sadly, without a purpose, it passed away.

Mainstream media covered it, social media buzzed about it, but, shamefully, nobody took the time to give The Handshake a proper goodbye.

So Lexington, Kentucky, advertising agency Cornett felt like they had an obligation to harness their creativity and create a really, really, really well-designed memorial website in The Handshake’s honor with the goal of encouraging donations to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

It’s called RIPhandshake.com and it has an amazing retro vibe that harkens back to the early days of the web. That means tons of glittery GIFs and, of course, Comic Sans.

There’s even a lovely poem written in The Handshake’s honor and a MIDI version of “Wind Beneath My Wings” to set the mood.

Try to give it a visit once you’ve gathered your emotions. And share your memories of The Handshake on the “Tribute Wall” if you feel like you’re able. Cornett thinks you’ll find comfort in the act of remembrance and, hopefully, a sense of community that helps you heal.

That’s what The Handshake would have wanted.

More info: riphandshake.com

There’s even a lovely poem about The Handshake

And lots of quirky old-school GIFs

Here’s another one!

And another one!

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