As I have mentioned in the past, I consider you guys and gals as friends. Due to this, and since I spoke of him on the list in the past, I feel compelled to share my deep grief that my three month old son, Charles "Charlie" David Barber passed away Thursday. He was visiting his grandmother (since I was a single dad, she cared for him when I worked) who discovered his lifeless body in his crib when she woke. It appears to be a case of SIDS. There was no trauma and it will be weeks before the toxicology reports return. Considering how much press it gets, you would be amazed at how really low the SIDS rate is. Its rate has been cut in half since 1980. Currently about 2300 deaths in 4 million annual births in the US.

I did not realize this depth of sorrow was possible. I do not mean to be a downer and I would prefer not to clog the list with a lot of condolences as I know your thoughts are with me. I apologize to those who do not feel this is the proper forum to share this, but since I spoke of him here, I would be at a loss if someone innocently mentioned him down the road and I had not shared the news. I am beside myself. The only time I got to fill out paperwork that I was his "father" was on his death certificate paperwork. This has changed me and I am going to miss my son and the old me. I had so embraced my role as father and the word "son". He is/was my only child.

Anyway, I think I may be trying to distract myself (which so far has failed miserably) by working on my project. Kinda hard to keep the tears out of the epoxy. I actually didn't know I could sob. I have some questions about the engine...actually Tracy's PSRU, and hope I am not thought crass that I may be asking some soon. It is a coping mechanism.

Thank you for humoring a grieving father.

All the best,

Chris Barber

Houston