You’re still alive on Facebook

Ami Kaufman By Ami Kaufman September 12, 2010 | Edit

“Aviram Pasternak’s Birthday”.

That’s what my Facebook home page said all day.

High up there, in the right hand corner.

I wondered if there was a way I could erase it somehow. My eyes kept veering towards those words each time I looked at my page.

Sometimes Facebook, in that same corner, up there on the right, tells me I should “reconnect with you”. Because we haven’t spoken in a long time.

I pressed the link on your name, and was transferred to your page.

I saw that the last time I wished you happy birthday was also the last thing anyone wrote on your wall.

I miss you. And your smile. And I miss Meni, too.

You're still alive on Facebook
From right: Meni, Aviram and me. Kerala, India
You're still alive on Facebook
Aviram and Meni. Kerala, India
You're still alive on Facebook
Me and Meni. Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka
You're still alive on Facebook
Meni and Aviram, throwing me into the pool at my wedding

I know you’re happy wherever you are. Even though you’ve left us down here.

But you’re still alive on Facebook. And I’ll bet you and Meni are celebrating your day just like you always knew how.

It’s weird, but I wish Meni had a Facebook account before it happened, too.

Happy birthday, dude.

Ami Kaufman

Ami Kaufman was chief night editor for Haaretz, for the prominent Israeli financial daily Calcalist, and correspondent on Israeli affairs for 93.6 RAM FM, a joint Palestinian-Israel radio station. His interest in food and cooking led to culinary studies at the "Israeli CIA" (Tadmor, Herzliya) and a brief stint in the restaurant business. Born in Tel Aviv, Ami lives in Bat Yam with his wife and two daughters. In his spare time he blogs at Half & Half.

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