Hey Bobs. It’s me. I know it’s been a long time, but I just wanted to say hello. My daughters, Hunter and Tanner, are grown now, and living their own lives. I’m still handling criminal cases over at the Courthouse. Tonight that old song Santa Monica, by Theory of a Deadman, came on while I was eating supper, and it reminded me of you. Not that I needed much reminding. I still think of you all the time, after all these years. Wherever you are, and whatever you’re up to, please think of your old friend from time to time. I sure miss you. You were an amazing friend, and the world is a flat, grey place without you. You lit up everything around you.

Missing you, kid!
I love seeing that others haven’t forgotten you and continue to live their lives while thinking of you. You are never far from my thoughts. Your children are all over my Facebook… I hope you see how much they have grown into great people. I love you.

Well, here we are, 15 August, 2021. 5 days past your birthday. I didn’t forget. In fact, I didn’t post this on your birthday because I’ve felt like maybe I’ve been selfish lately, and posted to you too often, and I wanted to stay quiet and give your family a chance to tell you happy birthday without reading a message here from me first. But now, having given them fair chance, I wanted to tell you I haven’t forgotten you. That will never happen. It doesn’t have to be your birthday, or the anniversary of your death, or any other special occasion for me to remember you. I hear you voice in the wind through the trees in my backyard, above the pool where we used to swim. I see your face behind the same desk every morning when I come to work in the office where once upon a time you used to sit when you were my secretary. Sometimes, in my conference room, I try to remember if I’ve ever re-arranged the chairs or if the one on the left is really the same one you used to sit in when we would watch TV on our lunch break. And just the other day, I pulled into the parking lot of that bar you used to work at after hours, you know, the one just down the street from my house, and I tried to remember which board in the fence I used to put my hand on to talk to you between the cracks just to ask you what time you got off work. You see, I haven’t forgotten you at all. Happy Birthday, old friend. I hope you think of me half as often as I think of you. I am with you, always.

Hey Bobs. Last week I drove by Rooster’s on Garrison, and I saw the old fire escape on the side of the building. It reminded me of something that happened a long time ago. You and I had gotten into a disagreement, and I hadn’t seen you in awhile. Then one night you called me up, at almost midnight, and asked me to meet you at Rooster’s. I hopped into my old Land Cruiser and drove over there, and when I walked in, I saw you up on the second floor balcony. You ran down to me, and you said I looked awful, like “I’d been through hell.” I said “well, that’s because I haven’t seen my old friend in weeks.” We ordered a couple of beers and went upstairs to drink them out on the fire escape. You remember a catwalk connects the balcony to the fire escape. A bouncer came outside to tell us we couldn’t sit on the fire escape, and we just looked at him and laughed. He went away and left us alone. So when I drove by and saw that fire escape a few days ago, it all came back to me. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, Bobs. That’s just one of a hundred memories I have of you. Even after all these years, it seems like yesterday. Merry, Merry Christmas, my old friend. How I wish you were here. Yes, like the Pink Floyd song.

Hey Bobs. It’s me. I remember the day I was in court, and they came to tell me you were gone. I walked out into the hallway and sat down. I was done. And everyone knew it. They continued all my cases for the day, because they knew how much you meant to me. Every day I drive past the little bar you used to work, and I see the parking lot with its little fence where I used to pull up on my old Triumph motorcycle and talk to you. It seems like yesterday. You have no idea how much I miss your smile, your voice...do you remember all the nights we watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer? I know it was a silly teen show, but you cried. I miss my friend. You were always there for me when I was going through a divorce and living in my office. You got me through a bad time, and I will NEVER forget that. Wherever you are, just know that I’m thinking of you, and I am with you, always. 

Hey Bobs, its me. I know you must have a lot going on up there in Heaven, but I just wanted you to know that my oldest daughter Hunter has taken over your old job, and she’s working as my secretary while she finishes her Master’s Degree in Literature from NSU. My youngest daughter Tanner is taking Criminal Justice classes at UofA and working on her Bachelor’s Degree. I’m very proud of them, and we just updated my office computer system to link up with our phones; it all reminded me of how you and I used to run the office back in the day. Anyway, I’ve been all over the world since the last time I saw your face, but everywhere I go, I find a Cathedral and light a candle for you. I haven’t forgotten you, and I never will. More to follow, and I just wanted you to know I was thinking of you tonight. May the Lord bless and keep you, and I am with you, always. Doug

Hey Bobs. I know I’m a few days late, but I wanted to post you a happy birthday. Do you remember the time we went to see that Underworld movie at the old Malco Theater in 2006? The movie about that vampire girl? I remember we got hot dogs and popcorn, and you wore Ralph Lauren jeans. You loved that movie. I just wanted you to know that I’m still here, thinking about you. Happy, happy birthday, my old friend. You have no idea how much I miss you. You were the best friend I ever had. Wherever I go, I am with you, always.

I remember an afternoon many years ago, when they had the annual Bikes Blues and BBQ on Garrison Avenue. I was already over there on my old Triumph motorcycle, and I asked you to come over and join me. We spent that entire afternoon riding up and down Garrison. We would stop in at Papa’s for a beer, and then ride for awhile, and then stop at Old Town for a beer, and then ride for awhile...I remember while we were riding you threw your arms out wide and said “go faster, just go faster” and I did. We must have hit the Garrison Avenue bridge at almost 100 mph. Not long ago, I ran into an old friend I haven’t seen in years, and he said “the last time I saw you, you were riding up Garrison Avenue on a motorcycle with a beautiful girl on the back. She was screaming Go Faster!” I knew he was talking about you, and it broke my heart. A man measures his life by the number of real friends he had. I have been blessed, because it’s friends like you who make life worth living. All that’s left to say is that I miss you.

Hey Bobs: I was getting together a music playlist for a road trip to South Dakota coming up soon, and I came across some old Coldplay songs. One of the biggest regrets of my life is that time you got 2 tickets to see Coldplay one weekend, and asked me to take you to the concert. I think it was in Little Rock, but it’s been so long ago I’m not sure now. But the point is, I don’t recall what made me say no, but regardless, I’d give anything in the world to have taken you to that concert. I’ll never forgive myself for missing the opportunity. It’s not your birthday or anything, but I just wanted you to know I was thinking about you. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you, and wish I could hear your voice, and just listen to you talk to me. Thank you again, for being the best friend a man could ever have. You left a big void in my heart. I am with you, always.

Bobbie Lee,
Your birthday is coming up on August 10... it is still tough every single day without you.
I love you, kid.
A

Bobbie, do you remember the night we were in Hot Springs, must have been 2006, and we left the Porterhouse restaurant and that boring Bar Association dinner, and as soon as we did a huge thunderstorm broke out? I took off my jacket and put it over your head, and we ran up the street to a little bar called Capone’s. Nowadays I think it’s called Chicago’s. That night they had a guitar band playing requests, and we sat there throwing dollar bills into the tip jar, drinking beer and listening to them play our favorite songs until they ran us back out into the rain at 2:00 am. We went back to our room at the Arlington, and we opened the bay windows and listened to the storm outside and watched Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. I remember the trees had left red flowers all over the sidewalk that night, and I threw them on your head and they got stuck in your hair. Do you remember? I do. You were the best friend I ever had.

Happy birthday Bobbie! I wish I had words to say how much I miss you. You were my secretary, my confidante, and my best friend. Sometimes, a song comes on the radio, and it all comes back to me. In this world, there are darknesses and lights, and you, Bobbie, shone so very brightly. Thank you, for just being you, and for being the best friend I ever had. Not a day goes by that I don’t remember you, and thank God that he sent you my way. Thank you, thank you for being my friend. May the Lord bless and keep you, and I am with you, always. Doug.

It is still hard every single day without you. Happy Birthday in Heaven, baby sister.
39 years old today.
I love you so very much. We get to see Hailee and Faith tonight. You are and will always be their mother. Trenton is becoming a fine young man- you would be so proud.
We all miss you. All my love, Your sister
Andrea

Bobbie Lee- it's been three very long years.... With long minutes in very long days. We all miss you so much. I pray you saw your balloon I sent up today. I love you so much. I'm going to keep honoring you. The kids are precious. Love, your big sister

Bobbie Lee- I pray you are having a wonderful birthday in Heaven.
I'm sure you are seeing everything. I love you and miss you more than ever!
All my love- your oldest sister
Andrea

I still can't believe you are gone baby doll! You were always so full of life and love! I can see you smiling now like you always did... I don't understand why you would be taken so young or why your babies would have to grow up without you.... It wasn't meant that I understand. I know thst God does all things in perfect time so I just have to believe that you were needed in heaven as part of his perfect plan! You have my brother there with you, please loom after him and give him lots of love from his little sister! I will be seeing ya'll when my time on earth is up.... Love and memories will last a lifetime!

Bobbie Lee- we will never forget you or the love you gave to each of us... Love, your big sister