I just re-read Jill’s post about people around us passing away and how so many times we don’t know it, realize it, or sometimes in my case, wonder but don’t know exactly how to find out. I’ve lost a few blogging friends and discovered later they had passed away after wondering where they went. Many of them have stopped blogging due to work changes or family problems, but there are the others I still wonder about. I know how to look for them but keep putting it off because of my schedule or some other lame excuse.
My aunt and I had wondered for years about a cousin (her niece, my cousin) who had fallen off our radar. Just a month ago I found her obituary — dated two years ago. She lived in Texas and our only source in Texas was my brother, but since he also passed away two years ago no one knew about her any more. Or maybe they just didn’t care. She wasn’t one of the more popular relatives, but I loved her anyway. We were kindred spirits during all those years of childhood and young adulthood, losing touch only after old age set in. Not a good time for us to lose touch, but neither of us could travel any longer and we had both had problems with handwriting for several years. Not a good excuse.
When my brother passed away two years ago I was notified by email. My sister sent out the notification. Not a good way to learn about a death in the family, especially when it’s your brother. I would have learned about another cousin’s death the same way if not for my aunt calling me early today about it. We all knew it was imminent, but still, the email that was sent would have been hard to take. Too many memories shared to be disposed of with a few words in an email.
One of the comments I read was to have someone tell you when a blogging friend passes away. Great idea, but I wonder if anyone will notice if I’m gone. None of my kids read my blog. I started it to share my memories with them, thinking they would be interested. Nope! No time for reading nonsense.
Ah, well, I have already planned my funeral so when I get in a mood like this I just write a paragraph telling the funeral home to divide my ashes into three urns and give one to each of the kids with my final instructions that they are to place the urn on the dining table so they will have to eat every meal with me for the rest of their lives. I’m also planning on finding a way back to upset them if they fail to follow my last instructions to them.
I wrote this last month and thought I had posted it. Now I find it in my drafts, apparently unsent. So now, while I’m working on my next post about the Assisted Living facilities in Kentucky I will go ahead and post it all. It was pertinent in December and still is now.
KYAngel's Reflections On Life 
Isn’t it odd that while the internet has given us instant communication to any and every part of the globe, we actually communicate less? Oh sure, we tweet and post things on Facebook, but actual communication, direct one-on-one “Hi, how are you?” sort of communication, has gone by the wayside. I love your idea about directing your children to place the urn with 1/3 of your ashes on their dining table!!! Hugs, my friend.
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The day my brother hooked my Mom up to the internet she was not a happy camper because she said at the time she would never hear any of her kids voices again. Not so true for her because we all called her several times a week. But since texting entered the picture I seldom hear from my kids, thus the ashes in three urns. They might call once every 3 or 4 months but nothing like they did before “smart” phones entered the picture. I’m ready to toss mine in the river but would hate to hit a fish with it Of course if I could beam a catfish and pull it in that would be great. I love catfish. And we have some monsters in this river.
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Let me know if you get that catfish and I’ll come join you! I’ll even bring the wine!
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When I pull that catfish in you will be able to hear me shouting in Cincinnati. Or screaming in terror if it’s bigger than I am.
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An unkind way to be notified of a death in the family I think, but as things go they call it progress. I must be honest, I’m not even sure how long it will take somebody to realise I’ve passed on though to be fair my son in law comes for lunch with me every Friday so he might notice but I’m not sure the news will be important to anyone else. My funeral is also arranged so it’s a burden I won’t leave behind, I just expect a lot of shrugs as people are informed.
I am no longer useful or relevant so time needn’t be spent with me. Maybe I should take a leaf out of your book and have my ashes shared with instructions to keep me front and centre.
Huge Hugs to You
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Maybe we should all leave instructions like that, David. As for anyone realizing i’m not here any longer, the staff will have to notify my kids, or at least one of them, because they seldom pick up the phone. When I try to call them I get voice mail that they never seem to check. It’s sure not fun to get old and be of no use to anyone any longer.
Hugs.
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