Our good friend Phil

One of my dreams since I’ve been blogging has been to make a road trip around the United States visiting friends I’ve made online along the way. Some of these friends I’d be meeting in person for the first time. At the top of my itinerary was Texas where I’d get to meet one of my very favorite online friends Phil Barron and his wife M and their famous cats. I really wanted to meet those cats, even though as you probably know I don’t like cats. But they were Phil’s cats.

I was also looking forward to eating some of his cooking which he routinely teased his virtual friends with on Twitter, always making it sound and look like what I’m sure it was, delicious.

And we’d trade medical tips. Phil and I routinely monitored each other’s health and reminded each other to listen to our doctors and take better care of ourselves. With Phil around---and it always felt as if he was around, even though he was a thousand miles away and only reachable through the ether---I felt I had somebody looking out for me.

A lot of people felt that way with Phil.

Here’s the thing. When you plan to do something like this, do it right away.

From Wev McEwan. RIP Phil Barron.

My heart goes to M and to the gang at Shakesville where Phil used to guest blog regularly and to Wev and all Phil’s friends and family, virtual and analog.

Comments

[the blonde]

I only got to know Phil recently through his Twitter feed, but I could tell what a gracious, kind person he was. What a terrible loss.

[Claire Helene]

Oh no. Phil was such a wonderful presence online. I am so sad about this.

[nancy]

Anyone who believes that virtual friendships don't matter is wrong. This is so sad.

[Kevin Wolf]

It's just a terrible thing.