When I posted before when Barry had just entered the hospital, I jokingly said he was "experienced" and knew what to do to get well.

Barry, I wish you'd taken my advice.

Back in '98 when I arrived here, Barry was one of the exchanges I remember first. I agreed with his antipathy toward RUS but in his case, I don't think that was the right word. No, for Barry RUS was more like a "stomp it in the mud, rip it to shreds, burn the remains, and bury the ashes in a tar pit, hatred" than antipathy. Like many other issues, he made clear where he stood and it was not straddling a rail.

I think many of us felt a love and kinship for Barry Finn and I always felt a bond based on some similarities more than RUS.....We were close in age and were paying later in life for the "sins" of our earlier one. Somewhere along the line, 23 years ago, we both married unbelievable women who were also our best friends and had some really special kids......LOL......and a Weimaraner. Yesterday was Karen and my 23rd anniversary and we spent it with me in the hospital getting checked out once again. As we waited for testing and test results, we talked about Barry and Justine.....two people we had never met in 3D but nevertheless felt the friendship which Mudcat had given us. On a lighter note, I told Karen not to let me order any ice chips as I didn't like what they did to Barry!

On occasion I have used the old line, "If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have treated myself better." And while, like Barry, I too would give about anything for more time with my family, who we were in our earlier days also was a significant part of who we became. Maybe if we'd had some kind of Crystal Ball and could have seen ahead to our great fortune in finding the wonderful women we did..............but there is only what is and what should be never existed.

To Justine, Natalie, and Gabriel. you have the warmest thoughts and most heartfelt sympathies from Karen, Tristan, Michael, and myself. I know that time does heal, but it never quite heals enough. Perhaps that's the right way of things..........I dunno'...........But I also know his memory will fill your heart and be passed along to others. That's what real immortality is.

We will all miss you Barry for hundreds of reasons.......Thanks for being here, for sharing so much, so freely, and so well with us, and most of all..........For being the man you were.

   
Pat