This is always something that has intrigued me, or at least had me think about. What is your plan for the events proceeding your death? Assuming we all live to be at least 50, most of us don't really dwell to far into what would be the course of things after we die. I am not trying to appeal into the talk of funerals, but rather letters to those you love or wish to leave messages for. Is it appropriate to write letters not to be opened until you die? Also, if I were to get shot in the head right now, chances are none of you would know. This kind of makes me a little sad, since I do care for a lot of you guys and would want you to know. Would doing something like writing step-by-step instructions for how to post a thread or message friends on skype about the situation be right to do? What do you guys think?
I had an online friend (Owen) I have known since he was 15 that I met on GMS. We were very close and I always said he was like the younger brother I never had. Back in January I was chatting with another friend from GMS (Drew) who was also friends with Owen, and we talked about how weird it was that we hadn't heard from Owen in so long. Usually he would only stay gone for a month or so and then pop up again. We talked about how maybe he was super focused on school and his girlfriend or maybe he was depressed and didn't want to get on Skype to chat. And then we joked that maybe he got into a car accident and died and how would we know if that happened. Based on that conversation, I decided I would go look for an obituary, since I knew enough about him to find one if it was out there. I found one. And all of the details fit. We contacted who we thought was his sister based on the obituary and finding her name on Facebook to confirm. He died in November. Less than two months before he was going to turn 21...and the ONLY reason we found out was because I went looking for that obituary. I used to call people I met and knew exclusively online, my "online" friends and people I have met in person and spent time with in person, my "real life" friends. But more recently I have stopped the "real life" bit...and now call them "in-person" friends. Because online friends are just as real life as the people you spend time with in person. I grieve for the loss of Owen just as much as I would a friend I hung out with in the flesh.
