Friday My Town Shoot-Out: For Barry

Barry. It was through your evident affection for your community, the West Hills area of Toronto, and your kind encouragement that I first participated in Friday shoot-outs. You were one of the very first to adopt shoot-outs; you were the main reason why FSO never felt like a typical internet meme but rather more like a group of interesting friends. Ed & Reub is peppered with your funny comments, and I always looked forward to seeing your remarks on others' blogs as well.


Barry Fraser passed away on Tuesday of last week, leaving behind hundreds of sad followers and a ton of good memories. Barry, we'll miss you more than you could have imagined.

This picture is of Barry (I think) and his new puppy, Lindsay, eleven years ago. I thought of it last week when we did "Feet" and borrowed it from his blog, An Explorer's View of Life. This photo brings a smile through the sadness, and I'm pretty sure Barry would want that.

My husband John greeting a springer puppy.

Barry was a dog lover and I always looked forward to his engaging Wednesday posts featuring his English Springer Spaniel, Lindsay: her sleeping through a burglary, barking at the police, meeting with the coyote, greeting the super models, helping with the raised beds, and of course the capers with the naked guy. Who could resist the irrepressible Lindsay?

Barry and his wife Linda were lucky to live near woodlands and bluffs, giving both of them a deep appreciation for nature. We are similarly lucky, and this kind of dog-walk reminds me of many outings that Barry described with Lindsay.

Barry's family were transplants to the New World from Scotland, just like this proud thistle coming into bloom. Which one of these flowers reminds me most of Barry? The one that stands out in focus, of course. Barry-- with his unique gift for words, his wit, wisdom, and generosity of spirit--always stood out in the crowd.

Thanks Barry. I was honoured to know you.