I died on October 7th, 2007.

At least that’s what my memorial website says.  I discovered memory-of.com last year and out of curiosity, started an account for myself.  I believe it started as an experiment in eulogizing myself, but in the end I couldn’t think of anything to say.  After that, I left my memorial, bare and forgotten.

Forgotten, at least, until the relentless e-mails began.  Death is big business after all and this website proves it.  Sign up for a simple page where loved ones can send their condolences and you’d better be prepared.  For months, I received offers to extend my page’s time on the Internet for a nominal fee.  Or, if that wasn’t permanent enough, I could pay to have the entire thing turned into a physical scrapbook.  They kept telling me that the memorial would be taken down soon, only to have last minute changes of heart.  “We’ve decided to leave up Brian’s memorial for another year at no charge!”

I had almost forgotten about my death again until a couple of weeks ago.  That’s when the “angelversary” e-mail’s began.  (Angelversary?  Really?)  There was one to remind me that the angelversary was coming and another a few days later to offer their sincere condolences.  A third e-mail expressed their hopes that the website had “been a comfort and a source of support” throughout the angelversary.  This last e-mail also took the opportunity to inform me, “Tomorrow is the last day that you can upgrade to a permanent Memorial Website at 25% off.”