"This is the story of how I died."

Can you come up with a more dramatic line to start a story with than that? Really. Can you?

I'm watching an older episode of Doctor Who where Rose says just that in the introduction to the episode. I know Rose goes on from the storyline and continues to appear in Doctor Who. So, in some way they are going to work all of that out in plot twists and clever dialogue. Yet, to hear that Rose is going to die... What could be more dramatic than that?

Philip Andrew Gooderham died on May 18th, this year. I don't who he is or was. But I read his obituary in the newspaper. I don't usually read them, my Mom has been an obit reader for years and if I am sitting near enough at the time she gives me the highlights and her opinions on what makes them good.

The obituary for Philip Gooderham wasn't one she talked about. My eye was draw to the Gooderham name and then I read it on my own. I liked what I read. First came the part about his death and his remaining family. He was only 51 years of age and he died of cancer. The following is worth quoting:

He will be remembered as a rich man with many friends. Phil battled serious illness all his life and most recently, cancer. He fought valiantly to the end. He did not lose his battle he simply decided to call a truce and travelled to a place where there is no pain, only peace.

It was a graceful and dignified note to the end of his life. Nicely written.

New word: Obituarist - One who writes obituaries.

The Blog of Death - Jade Walker's blog of obituaries.
Obituaries Help.org - Resources for obit writers.
Obituary Guide - Obit writing tips.
Society of Professional Obituary Writers - Also has a blog/ forum.
Obit Magazine
The Globe and Mail: Confessions of an Obituarist
The Obit Writer.com - also on Twitter.

Facebook: Weekend Obituary Readers - A neglected group on Facebook. Needs new owners to revive it.

DiedOnline.com - The Internets first ever death notification system!

Ever wonder how your online buddies would know if your dead or not? That is the question I was pondering late one night. How would my online buddies ever know if I had passed away? Then, I came up with the ultimate solution! DiedOnline.com - a website that will automatically notify your buddies if you die.

How does it work? You place special HTML code on your website, in your email signature, in your AIM sub-profile and pretty much wherever you can place HTML code. This will display a little image saying if you are dead or not.

You log into the member area within the time period you specify (your death check date). When you log in, the system knows you are alive. If you do not log into the system by the specified date, you will be labeled as dead.

How would all your online friends know if you died? Although I've also thought about this it still seems kind of morbid and twisted in a black humour sort of way.

In my case it would be useless. Although I'm tempted to join I KNOW I would never remember to login by my due date. Everyone would think I was dead when, in fact, I was just disorganized.