Checking the obituaries

Yesterday, after reading a French obituary, I noticed that Pierre Vialatte, a former alumni of my school had passed away. I broadcast a note to inform my former classmates and make sure he was who I thought he was. 

The sad news was confirmed and one of my former classmates asked me, “How did you find out” and what follows is the answer I gave to his “interesting question” as we say, these days. 

In fact there are more than one element to address it. I first told him I considered myself "old" because I am a realist and that’s a reality. So in this capacity, I know that many of my contemporaries are, just like me, subject to a risk of increased mortality. 

I therefore inform myself daily to see what passes from life to death in my region of origin, namely Haute-Savoie, a French department populated by the majority of people I’ve known there. Many old folks indulge in this practice. 

In addition to that, and just as important, my friends in France, with a few exceptions including the fellow who asked me the question, communicate very poorly, or rather not at all. I cannot, therefore, in all conscience, count on them. 

At a time when we have the best means of communication at our disposal in the entire history of humanity, a majority of my peers do not know how to, or do not want to use them. Others are fading away or already lifeless, quietly waiting to die. 

Since I live geographically far away from old friends, I feel it’s incumbent to me to make more efforts to stay in touch with these people who "hibernate" prematurely. 

Personally, and as an example, I think I can say that I am better informed about what is happening in my hometown than a large part of its inhabitants, at least on the subjects that interest me the most or I’m passionate about! 

Would you agree with this?