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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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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Nov 12, 2009 - 09:55am PT
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You guys with the poems, and those others who have actually read them, will have to decide. Decide carefully. There is no hurry.
"He didn't ask for them to be burned..."
Moot point. Kafka asked for all his works to be burnt upon his death. Fortunately his best friend and and executor Max Brandt (?) decide to honor his wishes best by sharing them with the rest of us.
Jr high could never be the same without Metamorphosis, brutal and telling as it is...
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Prezwoodz
Big Wall climber
Anchorage
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Nov 12, 2009 - 03:24pm PT
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It is hard to say with someone I didn't know. But from my own experience I think that to post them would be sharing a side of someone that they were unable to share of themselves. To think of death and to write it down in such ways show of a want to tell but the inability to do so.
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hooblie
climber
sounding out stuff as in the manner of crickets
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Nov 12, 2009 - 08:05pm PT
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undecided as to the dilema posed about his writings, not knowing the material, so don't count this as a solid vote in favor.
yabo brought out a complex set of emotions in me. it was a task not to be judgmental on the one hand, and that was to some extent because i could catch glimpses of my own shortcomings in his ways. i had no trouble embracing the part of him that was innocently transparent. it was kind of disarming to listen to him expose himself beyond our degree of familiarty.
he and i shared a patio table just before his going into isolation at the swnowbird comps. a lot of nervous energy and stream of consciousness puncuated by hard pulls on cigarettes. seemed incongruous with his intense ambition, but then this was yabo. when he turned to go, i felt like i had been given a real tour of the inner workings of a mind that had no misgivings about onlookers
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Maysho
climber
Soda Springs, CA
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Nov 12, 2009 - 10:40pm PT
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Hooblie, who are you? I was hanging with Yabo at that comp, I must have known you as well.
Don't really have a big opinion about posting his poems. I would like to see them but maybe they should just be circulated amongst his old friends, rather than posted on the web.
peter
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krahmes
Trad climber
Road Weary
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Nov 13, 2009 - 12:56am PT
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If there “poems” then I think your choice is fairly easy. There’s a beauty and madness in all human identities and language is one of the ways we understand this passage of consciousness. I suppose if the works mirrored something profane, I might hesitant, say the works of Sade, but I doubt that the case. You mention the writing are related to his final choice and I can only assume there’s a smattering of anguish and desperation which is part of the human condition and understanding that mind set for those not afflicted by such pain is perhaps a unwanted gift, but valuable none the less. Anyway I never knew the man outside his legend, you seem to have his memory’s best interest at heart, so I think whatever you decide and how much, will be the right choice.
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Prezwoodz
Big Wall climber
Anchorage
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Nov 13, 2009 - 01:57pm PT
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There is a lot of respect in this thread. It is a really nice thing to see.
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Russ Walling
Gym climber
Poofter's Froth, Wyoming
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Nov 13, 2009 - 02:35pm PT
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A vote here for not published, or published after a viewing by his close friends to filter intent and usefulness to the internet vultures.
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Ihateplastic
Trad climber
Lake Oswego, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 13, 2009 - 02:54pm PT
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At this point I am leaning toward holding off. I have some other materials from his sister that may be less emotional for those concerned.
I'll scan and post those things soon.
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MH2
climber
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Nov 13, 2009 - 03:01pm PT
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At this point I am leaning toward holding off.
Good. If in doubt, don't.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Nov 15, 2013 - 12:35pm PT
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Bump for good climbing.
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Mark Force
Trad climber
Cave Creek, AZ
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Nov 15, 2013 - 12:52pm PT
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When Yabo was on the up, he sure burned bright and his heart was kind and good.
He did an interview that was in Climbing or Rock and Ice that was quite good. Had an amazing picture of him doing a one arm chin while holding some weight plates. Awesome. Anyone have a copy of that they could scan to share?
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Rollover
climber
Gross Vegas
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Dec 25, 2013 - 11:13am PT
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Bump
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