I've sometimes wondered what it must be like to have numbers on your cell phone of friends who die. Do you hit the delete button? Make a quick clean break? Or do you keep them and hang on for old times' sake?
In the five years since mobile phone connectivity came into my life with a major bang, not one contact on my list has died. Surprising since so many blood relatives and acquaintances have passed on in that time. That changed today though. Sawmtea, aged 28, and much too young to die, passed away this afternoon of heart failure. His was a number I often hit for help and information about my internet and cellphone connections since he'd helped me with both. He knew strings to pull and often had strictly confidential updates about new plans and schemes BSNL had in the oven which he'd gleefully tell me in hushed tones. You will be missed, my friend. And I think I'll keep you on my phone for a while yet.
I am so sorry for your loss....May his soul rest in peace...
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your friend Sawmtea. Peace to the departed soul and strength to the loved ones he left behind.
ReplyDeleteWhen someone I know passes away, in my address book that I maintain in my pc I make a note of the passing away of that friend and the circumstances surrounding it. I do not delete the contact details. For my handy I have another rule. I leave the number in my handy till I change my set.
Thank you, Laldin, and thanks for dropping by and leaving a note.
ReplyDeleteLoch, that's a very good suggestion. I don't really maintain a proper online address book and thank heavens no one on my IM lists has passed away yet. But I think I shall also make a note of the passing away date and details on my cell phone. Lord knows I can't remember things like I used to.
Just earlier today, I was talking to a workmate about a student who was killed in a freak road accident last week and she was saying how deeply his death had affected her and that she would keep his number on her phone for a long long time for remembrance.
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ReplyDeletepica, that's the most commonsensical thing I ever heard on the issue. But on second thoughts, aren't numbers written with pen and ink on paper meant to be a little more permanent anyway than numbers saved digitally on some piece of technology?
ReplyDeleteYes pen and paper are definitely more permanent than digital zeros and ones. So I hope you are also saving your blogs in another more traditional medium. Don't go as far as the Egyptians with stones and chisels.....just paper, ink and pen will do!
ReplyDeleteAh Loch, as a matter of fact, no I don't save my blog posts in any other form or format. I just have this insane faith in blogspot.com and the internet. In fact, once I upload pictures on the net, I often tend to delete the originals on my hard disk. Yes, I can see you rolling your eyes but that's me :o)
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ReplyDeleteWell at least keep a copy of your posts somewhere. They are very valuable! Pen and paper and ink cannot be circulated widely but they will last you couple of centuries if the paper and ink are good. Ah maybe you can print out your posts and file it properly. Binaries are just that. Ones and zeros. Don't trust them too much. Example, can you retrieve the data from your 5 1/2 inch floppies from the late 1980's or early 1990's? Hell, I cannot even access the Wordstar (I loved Wordstar......so simple and easy!) documents from my server anymore.
ReplyDeleteLoch, in the late 80s I was only just getting into colour TVs and movie videos. Computors were things I thought existed only in sci-fi movies! :D
ReplyDeleteIt's been 3 years since Rosy left for her heavenly home. I haven't hit the Delete button on her number yet, though I've changed my SIM CARD and mobile twice ever since she left. I know someone will eventually use that number, but that number my mobile would still be her number. Don't hit DELETE button on such numbers!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you lost such a good friend. My heartfelt condolences.
ReplyDeleteI'm still keeping my dad's landline number though he passed away nearly three years ago and the phone has been removed. Just can't bear to delete it.
mnowluck and mesjay, thank you for sharing your experiences and my sympathies on your losses. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one being emotional about this.
ReplyDeletedavid cook permanent kha i ngaithla tawh em? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_68P6DNCkM
ReplyDeleteTeh daih a che
ReplyDeletesorry about ur frend...may he rest in peace...
ReplyDeleteno, i don't...i can't stand to delete...i think u remember my hubby's younger bro who passed away a month or two before we got married...i can't delete his number...now my younger bro-in-law is using that number...but i can't stand to change the name on my mob phone...it's still saved under da dear brother's name... :( ...i can't delete him on Y! either :( ...
Yes, I remember him and I understand *hugs* Guess it's a good indicator of the healing process today. You'll know you're at peace with your bereavement only when you can say a quiet high-tech goodbye.
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