I never met Barry in person, but I followed his blog, AnExplorersViewofLife (http://anexplorers.blogspot.com/), religiously after finding it under Blogger's Blog of Note over a year ago. I was drawn to his cleverness, humor, intelligence and interesting viewpoints on just about everything. Arwen loved his posts about Lindsay, his, and his wife Linda's, dog (as did I, she seems like such a character). In March of last year, the tone changed considerably, though never losing Barry's considerable skill at writing: while visiting a restaurant, he got a chicken bone stuck in his throat. Upon going to a hospital to get it checked out, they found something unusual. That something unusual turned out to be esophageal cancer. Barry treated it the way he seemed to treat everything on his blog: seriously, but with a wicked sense of humor, wit and love of life.Barry passed away on Tuesday. He is no longer in pain, the cancer can no longer sap his energy. He is now in heaven, running with dogs the way he used to love running with his beloved Lindsay on the bluffs near Toronto.
I'm ringing a bell for you Barry, you may not be living, but you have won your fight. The cancer is gone, and you will be sorely missed.
Rest in Peace my friend,
and Arwen
