Robert W Barnes 1948 - 2015

Here is a letter Rob left for his friends:

"To those who have traveled through life and this journey with me:

It is said "No reason to stay is a good reason to go."  I'm not ready to go.  I have countless reasons to stay.  The world has been so generous to me.  The universe has enabled me to forgive myself for all sins great and small.  This is not my circus and my fellow creatures are not my monkeys.  I learned that I can only be responsible for myself and what I do and how I feel, how I react, how I choose to be calm or otherwise agitated.  Projection into the future is my toughest vice.  It serves no purpose and interrupts my time here on Earth.  Cathy and I start each day by asking "Are you ready for another great day on Planet Earth?" and the answer is always "YES!"

I am thankful to have been born here, in this time, in this country, in this family to parents who cared enough to make sure I learned what was important to know for enjoying life as well as surviving.  It is a priceless gift and I only regret that they didn't live long enough to know how much I truly appreciate their sacrifices and gifts of love and life.
 
I know my life is finite and will end sooner than later, but that robs me of nothing except more time among those I love.  I've been loved which is the most important aspect of living.  And I've witnessed three Space Shuttle Launches, lived in or visited Australia, Canada,  England, Germany, Mexico, Hawaii, Yosemite, The Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Bryce, Sequoia, King Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Canyon de Shelly, the slot canyons of Arizona, Horseshoe Bend, the Grand Canyon, The St. Louis Arch, Hayman Island in the Great Barrier Reef, Atlanta, Bar Harbor Maine, New Orleans, Boulder, CO, Santa Fe, Sunnyvale, CA, Cupertino, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Muir Woods, Seattle World's Fair, New York World's Fair, St. Petersburg, FL, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Reno and Tahoe,The Smithsonian, Kennedy Space Center, and I've visited Alaska twice, once on a cruise up the Inside Passage.  I've been a rock roadie, a recording engineer, an award-winning documentary film producer, a television news commentator, a fine art photographer, a computer geek, an Apple employee, an original team member that built CNN, and, most importantly, a happy man who found the woman who is the love of my life, who loves me and is loved.

I have NOTHING to complain about and everything to be grateful for.  I am sorry to leave just when I have everything I really wanted.  Thank you to the Universe / God / Life / Family/ Friends -- it has been and continues to be a hell of a ride.

With all the love in the world, (signed) Robert