R.I.P. Barry Sears, a friend since kindergarten who changed my life over lunch
Barry Sears, one of my oldest and dearest friends, died unexpectedly in October. It was a profound shock amid a sad year of loss.
However, the service was every bit a celebration of this great man’s life, impressing even this crusty, aging pagan. Barry was a lifelong Christian, and he allowed his faith to constantly evolve throughout his life. He found his own place and helped found his own church, and I applaud it.
Music was a part of the service; Barry’s brother Scott selected Chicago’s “Saturday in the Park” to be played, as indicative of Barry’s fandom, as well as the “slice of life” positives the song still conveys more than 50 years after its release.
This started me thinking about the songs that Barry and I mutually enjoyed during the 1970s, drawn from the rock/pop canon, but with a surprise or two. He had band (trombone), and we both had choir. I played basketball, and he broadcasted the games with Lee Kelly on WNAS (our actual radio class time often was spent listening to tunes). There was music everywhere, and I believe I can speak for Barry in saying...
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