Yes I'm back from my not long enough trip to Egypt and Turkey, but I came back to the sad and terrible news that my friend and twin Barry passed away. Completely shocking and totally unexpected. He was getting better, his infection had gone away, and his reflexes were improving. A sign we thought meant he'd wake up soon.

I went to visit him before my trip and that day was the day when he squeezed his mom's hand; something that started to really give her hope. He squeezed my hand that day too and that feeling is something that can't be explained but it did give me the feeling that he was going to be a-okay and would be waking up on his own time.

It was just something we felt that day that made us truly feel like everything would be fine and he would wake up and make everyone smile again.

Don't want to get into too much details with everything so I'll just say he really had a way of making anyone feel loved, special, happy, and overall feeling like they were a good person. He even was one of the very few friends of mine willing to try weird and random foods with me! Hard to find these days and something that's important to me. He never judged anyone. Never treated anyone different. Not too many people like this in this world right now. He was raised right and ended up a complete gentleman. Can't come close to knowing the number of people/friends/family who are affected by this. This alone says enough of Barry's character and who he was as a human being.

I can go on but it's starting to hit me while I'm writing this so all I'll say is there is no one like Barry.

Time doesn't stop for anyone. You don't know what tomorrow may bring. Start appreciating the people in your life. Please be kind, loving, and be a friend the way you'd like a friend to be to you. Don't put anyone down. Treat anyone bad. Don't lie. Don't talk to someone like they don't have any feelings. Be real. Treat people the way you'd like to be treated. Most people know this but yet they choose to stay the same. I can't stress enough how much love and care you should express towards the people in your lives. Don't take anyone for granted. What I'm feeling now and those who love Barry aren't feelings of happiness. Not fun to lose someone you love and care for. Just keep this in mind as you carry yourself in front of others through this wonderful thing we call life.