Mr. Sheets, if you could change or do one thing differently in your career what would it be?

Mr. Smith,

I’d eat more roughage.

I live the life I never imagined would be mine.

I’m going to be purposely obtuse. I don’t know what that means, but I think it’s a good word. Please don’t ask because I’m not going to give any examples in the dialogue.

I don’t think I would change anything.

When I fought and really wanted some things I never got them. Sorry. There are some people I treated badly out of ignorance and I would love to have changed that. I did make important changes in my life. It’s just a little too late for some in my past. When I backed off and let things find the natural flow, the results came without my pushing.

So many opposites of the things I thought turned out to be true.

Some things I thought I needed were so bad for me once they were in my life they were ultimately harmful and would have to go.

Many of my life’s most important and truly beautiful lessons seem to come from adversity and pain. Some but not all of my personal rewards were always a surprise to me.

If I changed anything then the people I truly love might not be in my life at all. That might be my only certainty.

Rich or poor, high or low, happy or sad my most important lesson, and one I learned in spades, is that you must live on less than what you make!

My friends and family make this life as good as it gets.

Love, bob.

Thank you Mr. Sheets that was truly profound.

The best time of my magical life was working at Brookfarm with Bob & Steve. I laughed so hard some nights, my midsection felt like I'd done a thousand sit-ups.

In addition to all that's been mentioned, their Paper Balls over the Head using a toilet paper roll and the Floating Lady from the audience were real classics.

I'm extremely fortunate to know Bob as a magician and as a friend.

I love you Bob.

Nick

Here's a "Farm" story that bears repeating... Bob and I did a great routine with the sub trunk. I'm Harry Houdini and Bob dressed as my wife Bess Houdini. Houdini had a large Mexican lunch today. So, I'm locked in the trunk... with lots of trapped gas. At the moment I'm ready to vanish and reappear, the most pro-longed fart ever escapes from me... startled for a fraction of an instant, I lose my footing during the switcheroo with Bob and twist my ankle. But it's okay I finish the trick and the show without a problem.

Bob is trapped in the trunk with my fart and the odor is overwhelming... tears well up in his eyes. The volunteers removing the chains and locks are a little slow... Hallelujah... the trunk is finally unlocked and we are about to release Bob, I tell the audience "We gotta get him out quick, when I was in the trunk I broke wind." The line works great and I keep it in the act.

After the show I'm in excruciating pain and my ankle is the size of a softball. It's broken. Now my ankle is in a plaster cast and I'm walking with a cane. I can still do the show except for the Houdini routine which is too physically demanding. A member of our illustrious squad of table-hopping magicians, John Kennedy (one of today's great original close-up inventors/marketers) is rehearsed to take my place in the Houdini bit.

John doesn't speak. He's not mute, just a little shy trying to be funny in front of 150 people. We have a solution. He wears the Houdini outfit and does the trick, but I do the dialogue. One funny sequence happens when Bob slams the lid on the trunk and it looks like John's hand is smashed. His hand is smashed and I'm the one who screams in pain. The audience also screams and Bob lifts the lid. I show everyone... actually John shows everyone... it was just a fake rubber hand, and Bob and I sing a few bars of the Village People's hit song "Macho, Macho,Man."

The situation brings a lot of new comedy to the routine. Bob and I feel pretty confortable with this new arrangement. Then... the show comes when John's hand really does get smashed. He has broken fingers. I have a broken ankle. Mr. and Mrs. Houdini are on hiatus.

Steve,

I do remember that and it was painful to see. He's OK now. We had some great folks at the Brookfarm. John Kennedy, David Williamson, Scotty York, Tim Connover, Larry Davidson, John Ekin, Martin Lewis, Eddie Goldstein, Michael Ammar, Daryl, Paul Harris,...

Back in the day, bob.

Other great guest Farm performers: Ricky Jay, Tomsoni & Pam, Darwin Ortiz, Daryl, Peter Pit.

Nick mentioned our Floating Volunteer which went great for a couple thousand performances, but there were a several screw ups as is usually the case with machinery...

One time, after our usual dramatic intro, selection process, hypnotizing, the giggly party girl refuses to levitate, She just lies there... ten minutes of build up and no pay off. We felt like jerks.

Another pretty young thing is happily floating in mid air, but Bob and I can't seem to summon the power to return her to Earth. Bob threw her over his shoulder and carried her to safety... in the air above the sawhorses is the levitating plywood board.

A girl in a low cut evening gown, as the board starts to go up, her right breast starts to go out. Another volunteer goes up, she starts peeing in her panties...

Now I have to pee. Later.

Well Steve You are one of my oldest and best magic buddies. You have always been an inspiration to me and so many others. Don't stop now.

Thank you for making this another great adventure!

What ever I'm doing you always make it better.

Love you man.

You're buddy, bob.

Love you madly...