Something unusual has just happened.

A Seattle acquaintance named Tobe was diagnosed with biliary duct cancer last year. It was unsettling, since he was young and not at all in the prime demographic for that strain of cancer. Although he and I weren’t more than passing acquaintances, I donated to a fund to get Tobe a new bed last year, and I signed up for his health updates e-mail list. I reached a point where I related to him primarily via his updates — I received them much more often than I had ever seen him around town.

Last night, I received this update. Goodbye, Tobe.

Aside from the sadness inherent in the death of a friend, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever dealt with to have it all online. What will happen to his webpage? Will those of us on the updates list get a written description of his memorial? Is it macabre to go back and read his story? Did he write it knowing he would leave it behind for others? Was it a gift? I’ve not quite untangled my thoughts.