April 18, 2014

I have thoughts about this Easter weekend and our Barry that I’d like to share; and hopefully, fans will find them to be a blessed addition to the holiday celebration.

This is not meant to be a lesson in religion, just an observation of ideas relating to Barry and this Easter holiday weekend. I’d like to ask fans two questions: What do you all think of when you think of Easter? and What do you think of when you think of Barry Gibb? Think about this for a moment before answering. When a special holiday such as Easter comes along, I picture Barry in a whole different light. Especially for Easter, I think of his grandchildren and how they might be coloring eggs, going on an Easter egg hunt, and getting excited about that wonderful cellophane-wrapped Easter basket with the giant chocolate bunnies and jelly beans inside. Maybe they are going to church, dressing up in new clothes and shoes and special Easter bonnets.I think of his large family and a family dinner, probably somewhat noisy and chaotic with the children and grandchildren gathering to visit and share the day with Barry and Linda. Perhaps Yvonne and her children will be there, too. On this special weekend, he continues to be the father, grandfather and husband first and foremost, the patriarch of a large brood of Gibbs.

So how is Easter related to Barry? Well, if one believes what Easter is all about, it’s about rebirth. Think of spring and the daffodils and crocuses coming alive, baby lambs and chicks being born….a new beginning. Perhaps one of the most important messages of Easter is that death is not the end, and life takes on new meaning. We can always change and become better and start anew. I think in many ways that’s what Barry has done. He’s started on a new path, and his life, as well as the lives of Bee Gee fans, has taken on a new meaning. In spirit, Maurice and Robin are always a part of this, and they walk with Barry down the new path.

I remember hearing somewhere about a little child in church commenting on Easter and what it meant to him. He said, “Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, but Easter is everybody’s birthday.” Perhaps we can all think of Easter this way, through the mind of an innocent child. Then we might think of Barry this way as well: a man with a family and friends whose life has taken an unexpected turn but whose rebirth is a celebration for us all.