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babboo
Social climber
missoula,mt
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Jul 10, 2007 - 09:29pm PT
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Bobby, Faith,Bob,Anne,I had decided i wouldnt keep commenting , and just follow updates, because there are so many amazing ,thoughtful,anecdotes and words of encouragement that I cant compare with;but i cant help myself. Bobby , I have talked about you to friends for so many years. I had a meeting at my house with a bunch of women and our program was "off the wall". we were to talk about a favorite something from our home's walls. I jumped up and took a photo of yours to brag about. i cant wait to meet up with you in Cody soon. Your mom has been an amazing support person for me since my cancer diagnosis. Not a great thing to have in common!
Faith, i talk about you all the time too! You are not supposed to be over 30. You are an amazing young woman and your parents have every right to be overflowing with pride. Our church was looking for a project in Africa, and i was sure you could be a contact. We will work on that soon. You are an amazing little sister for your brother. I remember a bit of picking on each other. that was a few years ago.
Anne,another ginormous hug and thanks for notes.
Bob, ran into someone that knows you at Boone and Crockett when we were at car repair joint. was an amazing,karma ish meeting. They are sending all their thoughts and prayers. Well we in Missoula at the Bennett household think and pray for all of you constantly. Sarah
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Cruiser
Mountain climber
Cody
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Jul 10, 2007 - 10:16pm PT
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Hello Bobby,
Well, the grass got planted today. There was a double load of sod that showed up on the truck and they worked all day to get it unloaded and put down today. It looks great! We are so excited to see the finished results. Next is the building. We are getting the final drawings put together and we are anxious to get started. Barron, Mike, myself, and Heather (the new girl) will finally have the office space that we need and be able to get things lined out. I really wish that you could see what we are doing. It is so exciting!!
How is your mom today? Give her a hug and tell her that I am thinking about her. I can't wait to see your family back here and settled in to old routines again - including you in your travels and adventures around the globe.
Kirt, Todd and Monte must be having a great time in the Beartooths. We haven't heard anything to the contrary, so my moto is "No news is good news". They might have gotten a little chilly last night. The air was kind of crisp down here this morning. Wonderful Wyoming weather you know.
I have been thinking about you a lot lately and praying for you to wake up and see all of these posts for yourself. I know that Faith and everyone there is reading them to you, but there are some amazing pictures here that would bring back some great memories for you. There are so many people that haven't seen or heard from each other in a long time and this site has really provided a way to see, talk, listen to each other again. It has been amazing to see it unfold in the writings of others as well as Kirt and myself.
You are an incredible individual and I know that you are incredible to every person speaking to you here on this site. You have touched each and every one of us in some way. Every one of us here knows you in their own special way and it is so unique to see. Many people here have never even met you, but they are compelled to send you their good thoughts and prayers. You will always be that special Bobby. You just have a special personality and kindness about you that people recognize right away, whether they have met you or not.
I don't know if there are many people in the world that haven't at least heard about you at this point in time. It is incredible to see how many people are talking here from so many parts of the world. It is astounding!
Keep being that incredible, loveable person we have all come to know and love in one way or another. You are dear to all of us. Give your mom a big hug for me!
Janet
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Michael Power
climber
Cody, WY
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Jul 11, 2007 - 02:59am PT
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Hey Bobby,
Just wanted to welcome you and your family back stateside. Keep up the good fight. From reading the posts I realized that your good ol' buddy Jake Cowden lives about 20 minutes from me in Idaho. I took a Geology class with him at UW. It's a small world and you seem to know about 90% of everyone that lives in it! I'm so happy that you are surrounded with such love. Take care, and get back on those climbing feet!
Mike Power
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JCB
climber
Lander, WY, someday again
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Jul 11, 2007 - 09:37am PT
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BoMo, I'm heading to Lander tomorrow to see Steve, Peter, and the gang, and to move our real estate venture forward. In light of the messages posted here, however, I've decided that a two bedroom will not have enough room for the two of us plus your legions of female admirers.
Speaking of females, I talked to Steve recently, and we were both marveling at your female fan club, especially since we've both spent extended time with you in close quarters. Seriously, what gives? Did the knock on your head improve your looks? Has the hospital food reduced your normally toxic flatulence to a bearable level?
We will soon find out the answer because we're coming to visit. Peter is driving up, while Steve, Mike, and I are flying in. First item on the agenda: fixing your hospital room. You see, your room sounds awesome. Too awesome, in fact, and we think the luxury surroundings, combined with the considerable female attention, may be impeding your recovery.
In your current situation, you are surrounded by female admirers who are reading to you, feeding you, giving you sponge baths(!), rubbing your feet, etc., etc. Where's the upside to getting out of bed? You're in the catbird's seat.
That's why we've decided to redecorate your room to make it feel like a Patagonian refugio. Let's see, we will need: rotting timbers, mud, plastic tarps, bailing wire, duct tape, E coli, salmonella, and a few large rats. And about a decade's worth of climbers' flotsam, jetsam, and funk. We're not bathing for the next two weeks, and during this period we're only eating meat, cheese, and Powerbars. We will be sleeping in your room, and pretty females will be barred from entry (while anyone resembling a dirt bag climber will be welcomed). Oh, and we'll be turning on the hospital's sprinkler system for the duration of our stay. Sure, it will inconvenience the other patients and hospital staff, but that's a small price to pay. In short, by the end of our visit, you'll have considerable incentive to get out of there.
Looking forward to seeing you shortly.
jb
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gradyphoto
climber
Washington DC
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Jul 11, 2007 - 11:00am PT
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Ok, I was holding out with the fart stories, but speaking as a woman who dated Bobby years ago (and remained close buddies ever since) I have to say it's all true. Once, while driving in the Canadian Rockies, a perfectly gorgeous landnscape was forever marred b/c Bobby decided it would be REALLY funny to torture me with flatulence. He was driving and yet still had the ability to retain complete control of the vehicle and the passenger (me) while: farting and laughing uncontrollably, keeping BOTH of my arms at bay with his ONE right arm, controlling the windows and door locks so that I might not escape, and turning the heat on HIGH to add to the whole effect. Later when I returned to DC and he to Wyoming, his first email was "Do you miss my farts?" And strangely, I did. I still found him utterly charming. Go figure...
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HUEY
Social climber
Worland, WY
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Jul 11, 2007 - 12:51pm PT
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Bobby,
If someone is reading these to you I hope that you will hear this. I dont really understand what your condition is right now???
Im sorry I haven't written, I could make up excuses about how busy I am, but I think ultimately I havent written because what happend to you scares the sh#t out of me and I dont know how to wrap my head around it. I cant send regular emails acting like everything is OK, or telling you about whats going on in my world.
But I do want you to know that I love you.
I have been in Tensleep these past weeks inbetween assignments thinking of you. I walked past that route you put up a few times (Bare Back Buckle Bunnies) and saw a few photos I took of of you climbing in Tensleep on my computer.
We miss you.
One thing more: I dont know if I ever fully expressed my gratitude to you for what you did for me early in my career. For those who dont know - Bobby, already shooting for National Geographic, gave me his office and home in Cody for a month while he was way on expedition about 7 years ago. He showed me how to scan slides and archive my photos, and gave me a model for how someone in a small town in Wyoming could make it as a photographer. Im shooting for Nat Geo and the New Yorker, and Smithsonian, and a dozen other magazines because Bobby took the time to help me out when I was still living in my van trying to figure out how my camera worked. I owe you so much my friend.
Bobby, please come back to us so I can tell you these things myself.
Ill try to write again soon.
Aaron
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gradyphoto
climber
Washington DC
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Jul 11, 2007 - 04:29pm PT
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FYI a friend in NYC tells me Good Morning America (ABC?) is doing a piece on comas and recovery tomorrow a.m., July 12-- not sure time or any other details though--
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Charlotte
climber
DC, Turks and Caicos
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Jul 12, 2007 - 08:33am PT
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Hey Bob-Meister,
I was really chuffed yesterday when I got the Patagonia catalog and noticed that they used another one of your photos. It's the one of Leslie Paul free climbing a painted wall off Main Street in Cody. The pic is really good and I have to admit that whenever I get one of their catalog the first thing I check is whether one of your pics is in there, so this last one really made my day.
And then I cracked up because it reminded me of the first time we talked: years ago, I was hanging out with Jessica in DC during one of her visits and we were doing the usual, drinking tea and talking for hours on end. We were checking the latest Patagucci catalog (it's a bit of a religion, I know ... Right Tripp?) when she noticed that there was a photo of Faith, hanging laundry in Lamu, in the most beautiful light of dusk. Of course, we got totally excited randomly seeing Faith in print, and then we realized it was one of your photos. At this point, neither of us had met you but we got so excited that we figured we just HAD to talk to you, right there and then. So ... we did the only thing a girl could do, found your number in Cody on the web and picked up the phone. Now, Jessica was way too shy to call you out of the blue so it was one me. As I recall, the conversation went something like this:
 Hey Bobby, this is Charlotte, I'm with Jessica, we're both friends of Faith's. We've never met but your sister told us you're an awesome fella and we just saw one of your pics of her in the Patagucci catalog.
Oh, hey Charlotte and Jessica, it's nice of you to call. How are you guys doing?
Well, we're just peachy thank you, and were wondering what Faith is up to and where she might be.
You know, Faith is in Africa, blah, blah, blah ....
And you stayed on the phone for a good 10 minutes, graciously answering all our questions and being a perfect gentlemen to two nut-jobs who happened to be friends of your sister's. Jessica was mighty impressed and even more impatient to meet you. Best of all, when we did finally meet, you were kind enough not to remind me that a few months earlier we had called you, out of the blue, because we had just loved one of your photos in a patagucci catalog. That was real classy of you, Bud.
OK, I know this was totally random but I can't really help it, it was just great to see a new one of your photos being shared with thousands of people when I least expected it. And if I ever needed it, it made me think of you and reminded me of what a great guy you are. All this to say that I'm rooting for you, Bud, as I know everyon else is. And I'm waiting for you, and I'll keep waiting. And when you're back with us, it will be OK for you to give me grief for once calling you out of the blue. You can give me grief anytime, Bud.
Hug everyone for me,
Charlotte
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Mallamo
climber
NC
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Jul 12, 2007 - 01:20pm PT
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Hello All,
A few days ago John Long (aka Largo) posted a message suggesting that we pick a time to all send our friend Bobby some good mojo. Fully believing in the collective power of human energy I expressed to John what a great idea that was and we should really do it. I am currently in Lander, Wyoming for the International Climber's Festival and we decided that this Friday, July 13 at 8:00 pm would be a very opportune time to have a moment of silence and all send Bobby our thoughts and prayers. At that time we will be paying homage to our good friend Todd Skinner in a slide/video presentation celebrating his amazing life and will have an auditorium full of climbers, many of whom know Bobby personally. John is down in Venezuela and will be coordinating it from South America at 8:00 pm Wyoming time.
So, whatever time zone you are in, plan on taking a moment closing your eyes and just thinking good thoughts and sending them to Bobby in New York. With everyone reading this forum all over our world I have to think that his room at Mount Sinai will be full of positive energy, thoughts and prayers. And I do truly believe that Bobby will feel us.
8:00 pm MDT. Even if you have to set an alarm to wake up do so, as our friend is so much worth it.
Best,
Peter Mallamo
Bobby swinging high above the valley floor on Mount Poi, Ndoto Mountains, Northern Kenya
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gradyphoto
climber
Washington DC
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Jul 12, 2007 - 02:57pm PT
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Dear Peter,
Don't know you but have heard of you through Bobby. I will make sure and tell all the National Geographic (where I work) folk about 8pm this Friday...nice idea
Liz
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L
climber
Atlantis...before the flood
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Jul 12, 2007 - 05:07pm PT
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What a fantastic idea!
That would be 7:00pm Pacific Time for all you Cali wall-rats who don't understand time zones.
Peter (or anyone)--could you post a good mugshot of Bobby so we have a healthy face to focus our energies on?
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Mallamo
climber
NC
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Jul 12, 2007 - 05:13pm PT
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Sure, here is a shot of Bobby in the main bazaar in Skardu, Northern Pakistan. It's one of my favorites of him.
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Mees
climber
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Jul 12, 2007 - 11:01pm PT
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Excellent idea and we'll be ready 9:00 PM our time.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jul 13, 2007 - 01:45am PT
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hey there all... say, i have a medium sized, poem to for bobby's sister, faith... does anyone know an email address that i can send it to, so that you can resend it to her, or make sure she gets it... or shall i post it here, as she can read it here, just as well?... ?...
as most of the messages are for bobby, and about bobby, to encourage him, i did not know where to put a message for faith...
please post, and let me know... thanks, all...
*more wonderful joint effort for the prayers/good vibes, etc, ...say, all, as i am new to visit here, i do not know todd skinner, but send condolences for his family...
**and also for, mike strassman's family, as i have seen that he passes-on, as well....
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L
climber
Atlantis...before the flood
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Jul 13, 2007 - 01:32pm PT
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Thanks for the awesome photo, Peter.
I'm bumping this to keep it on the front page to help everyone remember about tonight.
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Staples10
climber
Jeffrey City, WY
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Jul 13, 2007 - 05:52pm PT
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Bump!
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Big B
climber
Cody, Wyoming
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Jul 14, 2007 - 01:50am PT
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Hey Bobby,
The Big B talking here, I've been thinking about you and Faith on a daily basis, some times I laugh and some times my eye fill with tears and I get choked up. I read what others have written and see names of people that I haven't seen in years, but most seem like family as we all grew up together. Many people would say "small world," maybe so for a man that has stood on top of it so many times. I enjoy the stories people tell about you, all with that special hint of Bobby.
A new member to the KBL Tech. family is your good friend Peter Chivers, As he works away on the building he'll pass a almost Bobby like grin at Mom (Becky) as she say's "Good Morning" or when he stops in to tell us his plans for the next day. As his work is almost complete, we will miss Peter being around every day to pass off a grinn, a smart ass comment, or just maybe to makes us feel a little bit closer to you.
As I talked with my wife tonight she said that out of the dozen times she has been able to meet you, you were always quiet, polite, and ask how Jaidyn our daughter was doing, (growing like a weed); most of all having time to just say hello. But what she hasn't seen is this wild Bob that every one is taking about. That is just your style. Make the Females think your this shy quiet type.
For anyone that wants to see that other side of Bobby or to read a great story about Bobby go to WWW.m-11.com/story
It was posted by Peter Chivers.
Take care Bobby were here for ya.
Faith much love and prayers
Brent,Heather,and Jaidyn Lohrenz
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Charlotte
climber
DC, Turks and Caicos
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Jul 14, 2007 - 08:44am PT
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Great story Peter (and great story writing ...), thanks for posting it, I got more than a chuckle out of it, it all sounds so like Bobby.
Hey Bob-Meister,
Today is turning out to be a beautiful day, the sun is all out and the sky is gorgeous, and of course when I saw it, the first thing I thought about was you. I don't know if you felt it, but I think quite a few of us tried to send some positive thoughts your way last night (this morning in Africa). For me, it was made all the more special because I had just picked up my big bro at the airport who had just flown in from London. And what could have been just a regular visit is becoming very special for me, because I think of what a brother you have been for Faith, and then I notice, and love my own brother even more. You're a very special guy, Bud, having this kind of effect on so many people, even when you're hooked up to a ventilator in a sun-bathed room of an 8th floor overlooking Central Park. What is it about you that touches people's lives so?
Love you, Bud, take good care of yourself and come back to us soon.
Hugs to everyone,
Charlotte
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chivers
Mountain climber
cody, wyoming
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Jul 14, 2007 - 12:34pm PT
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This blog is nothing short of amazing! I haven't posted yet, but like everybody else, I do check it regularly.
I did write a story about my visit to Kenya to see Bobby. There is some foul language and such, so be forewarned. Here's the link again:
http://www.m-11.com/story
Thanks for the update, Faith.
Take care,
Peter Chivers :)
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Tripp
climber
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Jul 14, 2007 - 01:33pm PT
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Chivers, that is beautiful story, tears to my eyes, make sure Meado reads it.
Everyone should take a minute to read it and laugh. Thanks for sharing finally, now the pressure is on and we expect more!! Bobby would get a good heh, heh, heh out of remembering that ride. T
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