Living or Dead

I received an email from Blogger, "What to do to keep Bob's Daughter alive..." - I could not stop laughing.
Apparently I have not posted in a VERY long time and now Bob's Daughter may DIE. But I don't believe it,  because I am not sure that one can actually die on the internet. It has however inspired me to post.

An acquaintance of mine, John, has actually died since I last posted, but he is still on my DROID phone. Not because I haven't tried to delete his contact information, but because he still has a facebook profile. I would have to delete all facebook contacts to remove him from my phone. Instead I must apparently "unfriend" him on facebook and then update my contacts from my phone. This is the new death ritual in the age of smart phones and facebook. No mistakes, this is a ritual, how many thousands of us must make the choice to look at our deceased friend's picture or "unfriend" him or her. You know me, I'm headed to facebook, the real world is challenging enough - the living or dead conundrum on- line needs attention and I will do my part.

Lots of love,
Bob's Daughter

Google has now listed one of Bob's patents online. When I first found the patent (see blog) I discovered it from a Florida newspaper and then had to search the patent office. Now, just several months later Google has it in one quick search and link. Did this blog push his patent to the front of the line for digital processing, is it random, or alphabetical?

We are living through the initial stages of a digital world and I want to be conscious of it. In years to come this will be taken for granted, but it is happening NOW, for anyone reading this blog.

I found something else in this search. A site called Funeral Digest with the headline Today's Obituaries.
One of mom's obituaries is there.

There are also funeral plots for sale and a banner with names of people with anniversaries of their deaths.
This is big business. I think it used to be called religion.

Ballard Durrand, the funeral home I contracted with for Mom's burial, sent me a letter inviting me to have them set a dove free in my mother's honor.

I mentioned this to two professors I teach with at SUNY New Paltz. Kathy responded, "What are they going to do otherwise, keep them hostage?" So funny, and terrible.
The other professor, Suzanne, said that she thinks we do not talk about death in our culture and that people are searching for meaning. I agree with her.

It is the convergence of the internet, capitalism and lack of meaningful ritual that is creating this bizarre death market.

In the meantime, no word from MyLife.com about the email I sent my father.
It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "dead letter box."

Respectfully,
Bob's Daughter