Goodbye, Bob

Last night I had a dream which my friend Bob Witham from Camden was in it. I came to the computer this morning just to see what Bob was up to training for Shadwell Stables. Hayes and I have been waiting patiently for Bob to come up to Kentucky and take us through Shadwell, but now it'll never happen.
Bob died after a freak riding accident Dec. 12. I'd sent him crumpets in the mail - he loved crumpets - and they were to arrive Dec. 17. I never heard from him, which I thought was weird, given his excellent manners and I was going to call and tease him about it. I just learned he died Dec. 17.
I spent about 15 minutes on the phone with his assistant trainer Jennifer Leadbitter this morning. She said it was ok for us to come back to the stables and watch the horses, that Bob enjoyed when we came. I'd left Camden about 15 years ago and felt Bob was the only friend I had left.
When I saw him again after lots of years, he hugged me and we talked like no time had passed at all. Hayes told him she wanted to be a jockey and he told her to come see him when she was ready, that he would give her a job. It was all she talked about for weeks.
I feel so fortunate to have known him, to have gotten to spend a little bit of time with him. He was one of the few genuine people I've ever met and I don't know if I can visit Camden or go to the steeplechase races again without Bob around. It just won't seem the same.