---

 

This writing was accepted for publication in the 108-page perfect-bound ISSN#/ISBN# issue/paperback book “Barn Cats” cc&d, v319 (the March 2022 issue) Order the 6"x9" paperback book:

Order this writing in the book Unfinished Business the cc&d Jan.-April 2022 magazine issues collection book		get the 410 page Jan.-April 2022 cc&d magazine 6" x 9" ISBN# perfect-bound paperback book:

Barlow
2021 Remembrance

John F McMullen

Thirteen years after
his death
John Perry Barlow
had slipped into the
back recesses of my mind
until a friend wrote a poem
about the Grateful Dead

This was not fitting!
Barlow
(always “Barlow” to his friends
not John or JP
His EFF partner Mitch Kapor
was “Mitch” — Barlow was Barlow)
was larger than life
certainly deserved longer memory

I was a friend of Barlow’s
not a close friend
no — that’s not accurate
every friend of Barlow’s
was a close friend
once you were in his orbit
he would:
        add you to his “BarlowFriends Mailing List”
        invite you to talks, parties, conferences, etc. when he was in your area
        discuss private things that one would only do with close friends
so I was a close friend
but so were thousands — or ten-thousands - of others

I didn’t know Barlow when
        he was born on a ranch in Wyoming
        went to Wesleyan University
        travelled around the world for two years and lived in India
        lived in New York City and hung around in Andy Warhol’s Factory
        did LSD at Timothy Leary’s home and dealt cocaine in Spanish Harlem
        collaborated with Grateful Dead’s co-founder Bob Weir on songs for the Dead
        he mentored John Kennedy Jr on his ranch as a summer worker
        he was a Wyoming coordinator of
Dick Cheney’s 1978 Congressional campaign
        he had three daughters, “the Barlowettes”

I did know Barlow when
        he co-founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation (I was at the roll out)
        he would call me or respond to calls about an article I was about to write
        he wrote “Crime and Puzzlement”
        he wrote “Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace”
        he called me when he was in my area to pick up his Maine Coon Cat
        he wanted help in finding the grave of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
        he was attending the World Economic Forum in Switzerland
        he was an Emeritus of the
Berkman Center for Internet and Society
at Harvard
        I went to his birthday parties in New York City
and on a memorable 1994 day in New York City after a panel discussion at NYU’s Law School
where he referred to “cyberspace” as the “place where flesh becomes word” and
after we stood out in the street
and he reduced me to tears
by telling me that he and his fiancé
had taken separate planes back
from the West Coast
and that she had died on her plane
and then he looked me in the eye
and said
John, I really loved her

After that, I just saw him
at birthday parties and
at the last, my wife Barbara
said Barlow doesn’t look good
As we left, John McEnroe,
the tennis great who I really
didn’t know was coming in
we nodded and I thought
Barlow really does know everybody

While I didn’t see him again
I know that we kept in touch
through his e-mailings and
telephone conversations
so it was a surprise when
I learned that he had a
heart attack in May 2015

I thought that he was recovering
but then in October 2016
I and other friends got a message
from the Barlowettes announcing
a benefit with perfotmances by
Bob Weir, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott.
Sean Lennon, and others to kick
off donations to a medical expense
fund for Barlow - uh É oh

I found out about his death
in February 2018 in another
e-mail from the Barlowettes
entitled
Barlow’s Graduation from Meatspace

I also learned that
throughout his illness
Barlow’s main concern
was finishing the book
that he wanted to write

Unfortunately, he didn’t
it was completed by his
co-writer Robert Greenfield
just a few days after his death

The book
Mother American Night
is a terrific read
but might make one wonder
could anyone have done all of this
and known all these people?

The answer is a resounding YES
I knew him for a good part of it
he was special and I am grateful
that another friend brought him
back into focus for me
I will re-read his book once more
and shall not let him slip away again.

Copyright of written pieces remain with the author, who has allowed it to be shown through Scars Publications and Design.Web site © Scars Publications and Design. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission from the author.

Problems with this page? Then deal with it...