I don't even know where to begin. I knew a while back we

would lose him eventually. Unlike most of these wonderful people

who have one or two memories of Bo, I had the luxury of having one

or two a week. It started when I was in 3rd grade and I was invited

to a halloween party by kid on my school bus. That kid happened to

be Samuel Roberts, Bo's step-son. From that party on, our families

became very good friends. I was always Bo Pop's favorite and I'm

pretty sure I know why. We share the same birthday. December 30th.

What was really strange is that Bo was born in 1928 and I was born

in 1982. He was the first person to ever teach me how to eat a

steak and use a steak knife. We did that at YesterDaves in

Albuquerque NM. I remember that birthday so well because it was the

first time as an adolescent that a man had taken an interest in who

I was as a person. My mom was great, but she raised all seven of

her children without a father to help. I'm sure my mom could tell

you so many stories about Bo and his then wife Marilyn. He once

wrote a song about my mom and her goat. My older sister lived with

Bo's family for a year or two, I'm not sure how long. I last saw Bo

Pop at El Rey in downtown Albuquerque. It was for his 75th birthday

bash. We, of course, bought tickets, though I certainly could have

gotten in for free. That's Bo's gift to the world, and I felt it

only fair to pay for at least his music when he gave such a large

portion of his life to me and my family in the time we knew him.

Yes he was older and time had taken its toll. But I could see in

his eyes that he was still Bo Pop and he still had the same passion

for life and music that he had when I was a little boy. Most people

will go their entire lives without ever knowing such a legend. Do

not, for one moment, think that I ever took him for granted.