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Ihateplastic
Trad climber
Lake Oswego, Oregon
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Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 11, 2009 - 12:51pm PT
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Yabo's sister recently gave me a few photos, letters and articles from John. I am still debating posting a couple of his "poems" since they actually seem to be related to his final choice. Not sure how I and the rest of us may feel about that...
Anyway, this article appeared in the San Jose Mercury News on Thursday, May 19, 1988. I made the scans large in hopes you can read them. Since the article was wide and long I had to scan in three parts and I am TFL to stitch it.
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WBraun
climber
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Nov 11, 2009 - 01:03pm PT
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Post the poems.
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Nov 11, 2009 - 01:35pm PT
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Bring on the poems, please.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Nov 11, 2009 - 02:02pm PT
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Simon,
Here is that newspaper photo brought up to the extent I could in Photoshop:
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TripL7
Trad climber
'dago'
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Nov 11, 2009 - 02:32pm PT
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ihateplastic- "Not sure how I and the rest of us may feel about that"
Thank you for posting this article about John.
Yes some things take much 'soul searching'
and thought on our part.His immediate family
should be of the utmost concern.
If they (his sister...) are OK with it,
and it was the reason she forwarded them to you,
then that would be in my estimation more than
a majority vote.
I can understand how one would choose to
guard/protect the memory of one that they
consider one of their own. A surrogate family
of sorts. And that treading across certain
boundaries could be considered an invasion,
a desecration perhaps.
What would be the reason to take such
a painful journey into one's past?
To merely satisfy our curiosity? To provide
something for people to come to gawk and pry.
I am sure most of his friends would prefer
their memory's to remain just that, theirs.
And that's the way it is with all of us.
I would have to ask my self if I would want
my father, brother in law, or a loved one
I may loose to suddenly become the 'subject'
of some post mortem analysis etc.
On the other hand, as you so delicately stated,
"since they actually seem to be related
to his final choice".
This could be the primary reason in my
opinion to post his poems.
Just last week I believe 'Mighty Hiker'
posted on another thread how the suicide
rate amongst our armed forces who have
served in Iraq and Afghanistan has
doubled since 2004.
And among youth it has been on a
constant rise since the 60's.
Perhaps the very poems that Yabo wrote
were a cry. Perhaps they were a declaration
of why. Would it help in anyway?
I do not know.
What do you and his sister believe
would be the benefit of such disclosure?
I am merely attempting to open discussion.
There are those who should have the final say.
It is not my privilege to make such a decision.
Sincerely, John.
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Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
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Nov 11, 2009 - 02:37pm PT
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Simon,
We discussed this at some point didn't we? personal letters, notes and poems that were not intended for the public, should stay that way. . .df
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TripL7
Trad climber
'dago'
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Nov 11, 2009 - 02:54pm PT
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Bullwinkle- "Personal letters notes and poems that were
not intended for the public should stay that way."
In my ramblings above I forgot to mention just that. What
were Yabo's intentions? These should be honored foremost.
That's called respect.
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Dolomite
climber
Anchorage
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Nov 11, 2009 - 03:06pm PT
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Good point about Yabo's intentions. Proceed slowly and thoughtfully, Simon, as you obviously are already doing. This is a much debated concept in the world of letters, most obvious example is Kafka, who ordered his work destroyed. It wasn't. Most people are grateful for this fact. Current example is Nabokov, whose son Dmitri has just published his last "novel," composed of fragments against the expressed wishes of his father.
Yabo was a fascinating person about whom the general public knows very little. I'm sure people would love to see his work. But that fact alone isn't a reason for releasing it.
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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Nov 11, 2009 - 03:08pm PT
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Mark Twain has sometimes been accredited with the saying, "You only need two friends: one to brag to, and one to complain to".
There's a lot of folks here who were close friends with Yabo.
I got to know Yabo pretty well in the 80's, but I must have been one of the ones he liked to brag to, because it was just pure fun with Yabo around, going bouldering, racing around on the bikes in the valley and in Josh, generally looking for trouble, that kind of thing.
I suppose I'm trying to say even though Yabo had a dark side, he sure had an interesting life, and that aspect should be shared and celebrated.
The only Yabo document I ever saw was his request for sponsorship to the Snowbird Comp. It was quite good in a unique way, and I wished I kept it. (He had tried to get other sponsors, but apparently we were his only cash sponsors--$100 for travel expenses and some gear-- he told me he'd wear an A5 T-shirt for the comp--not sure if that was the actual case.)
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Iron Mtn.
Trad climber
Corona, Ca.
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Nov 11, 2009 - 03:11pm PT
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I wish someone would write a book about Yabo, i've always been interested to read the real and entire story.
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Ihateplastic
Trad climber
Lake Oswego, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 11, 2009 - 03:38pm PT
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Dean... It is true we discussed this and I also discussed it with his sister who believed the writings could be of interest to others. eKat has a very valid point that John LOVED the idea of fame. For any number of reasons he was not able to cash in the way Bridwell, Kauk, Bachar, Largo, Lynn, etc. did.
I am going to hold off for a day or two while I digest the opinions. The letter/poem is not a "... I am going to kill myself unless..." type of missive, but it is rather poignant. Keep in mind that he left us in 1991... approaching two decades ago. Perhaps the time is right? According to John's sister he never indicated that his writings. etc. should be burned and never read. Should we destroy any and all exiting yet unpublished writings of historical people after they pass?
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TripL7
Trad climber
'dago'
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Nov 11, 2009 - 04:08pm PT
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Perplexing to say the least.
Obviously there is something incredibly
magnetic and compelling in regards to the
spirit or memory of Yabo.
Perhaps, such as eKat was suggesting
it is exactly what he would want.
Did he openly share them or was he hesitant
to do so? Just a couple things to ponder.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Nov 11, 2009 - 04:24pm PT
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whatever is decided, it should be done with intent
while Yabo desired fame, posting stuff on the internet can become an exercise in voyeurism, serving no purpose other than to make public those things once private.
The issue is that once you've put them up on the internet, they are public forever, there is no return.
A friend, teach and colleague once admonished me: "before you do something irreversible, think!"
I pass that along for consideration.
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billygoat
climber
cruzville
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Nov 11, 2009 - 05:07pm PT
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I don't want to see any of it unless the entire community of Yabo's friends and family is in support. Bullwinkle's point of view deserves much more careful consideration than most. If Werner wants to see it, maybe you could show him privately. This doesn't seem like the right place to go showing off someone's most inner thoughts without knowing with absolute certainty that it's what they would have wanted. At this point, the only people who can even come close to making such a decision are those who knew Yabo best. It doesn't matter how long it's been. There's no statute of limitation on someones final wishes.
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TripL7
Trad climber
'dago'
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Nov 11, 2009 - 05:48pm PT
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Ihateplastic- "should we be burn and never read...should we destroy."
Of course that isn't an option being considered. But I thought I
might put out another option. Some one up thread mentioned they
would like to read a book about John's life.
It could include some of his poems, perhaps put out by the 'Stonemasters' or you.
Certainly plenty to work with and plenty of interest.
I think that would be a more 'dignified' way to honor Yabo!
Just another angle to consider.
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Ihateplastic
Trad climber
Lake Oswego, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 11, 2009 - 06:13pm PT
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"Bullwinkle's point of view deserves much more careful consideration than most"
Why?
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426
climber
Buzzard Point, TN
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Nov 11, 2009 - 07:17pm PT
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iirc, he climbed with him or such
some random remarked to me recently something similar to the article "climbers should get paid more" (for the time, effort and athleticisim compared to some sports)
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Fuzzywuzzy
climber
suspendedhappynation
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Nov 12, 2009 - 12:51am PT
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"Proceed slowly and thoughtfully"
No fast moves.
This medium - I don't trust. Be very careful with that information.
TC
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Nov 12, 2009 - 03:05am PT
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There are lot of good points here, and ultimately, who gets to say? His sister thought some people might get some usefulness. I don't think anyone on this forum has any intent to defame the memory of Yabo or maybe I'm wrong. I knew Yabo and even saw him shortly before his death. No clue. I even lost my older brother to suicide. No clue. Let's not get over-sentimental but don't disrepect. I think either way your intentions will be understood. Good luck with that one.
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shipoopoi
Big Wall climber
oakland
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Nov 12, 2009 - 03:18am PT
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yabo lives! in our memory as an energetic, gifted climber and as a tortured soul. i got to know him fairly well working side by side with him in old cityrock days, and we were all so sad to see him go. some of his free solo antics are so sticthed in my memory.
YaBlowMeOutSki is legend, now and forever. shipoopoi
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