A dear friend of mine passed away a week or so back.
Yet when I jump on Facebook for some mindless scrolling, there it is, right on top of my newsfeed, the shortcut to her page.
She’s not the only person whom I’ve lost that appears like nothing ever happened, on social media.
Many, many friends, my late husband included, still show up on my Birthdays lists and in memories. Their comments are still there as if they just made them.
Some pages have been memorialized, most have not.
I haven’t gotten around to having Bret’s Facebook page memorialized. For some reason, every time I go to do it, I just can’t.
This is probably for the same reasons that I’m holding on to his phone line even though his phone – the thing with the actual memories – was long since stolen.
His page – and all the others – are like little time capsules, showing their last photos, their last thoughts, their last meme.
In a way, social networking has ushered in a new era of remembering our Departed. I am still on the fence as to whether or not it’s helpful to our grieving process, or harmful.
Some days Facebook Memories will show me something that Bret said years ago that is so applicable to what’s going on for me in the present, that is actually eerie.
On those days, I find it all to be very helpful.
But when the days come on which the memories of his death will make an appearance, it’s a little more difficult.
With social networking being what it is these days, most people who have lost loved ones will deal with this in one way or another. And to be perfectly honest, some of the widow and bereavement groups that I’ve found online have been monumental in my healing! (Hope For Widows absolutely included!)
It still takes my breath away for a hot second when I see an old comment from one of my now long-gone friends, though.
For a brief second in time, it’s as if they never left.
Image via Freepik
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About Layla Beth Munk
Layla Beth Munk is a blogger & author who was thrust into this widowhood journey abruptly and tragically on February 11, 2018. Her husband of 12 years had ended his pain once and for all. She soon made the decision that she would not let his final decision define the rest of her life or their daughter’s life, so with her sense of humor at the helm, she started writing about her newfound station in life. Grief waves still get to her, and probably always will, but with the help of her fellow widows as well as friends and family, she has been able to realize her dream of becoming a published author! Layla is so grateful to Hope For Widows Foundation for providing this level of support to her, and so many others! Layla has two amazing children, one who is grown and one who is almost grown. She lives in eastern Oregon and has a wellness & beauty background. Layla enjoys writing poetry, watching anime, and homeschooling her daughter.
Her blog can be found at laylabethmunk.medium.com and her debut novella, 24 Hours in Vegas, is available on Amazon.