Listen Closely: That's the Sound of Children's Dreams Dying
By Sarah Carlson
May 9, 2007
This isn't really entertainment, but it deserves to be mentioned. Somewhere in Abilene, a child is hurting. Why? Because several unnamed someones are trying to destroy a piece of their childhood: Dinosaur Bob.
I didn't recognize the name at first, but I soon realized the hub-bub centers around the green dinosaur and orange Volkswagen Beetle perched atop The Grace Museum parking garage downtown. I don't notice it most days; it's not at eye-level and is hidden by trees from some angles (that's not snow on Bob's hat!). It's just ... there. Haven't thought much about it, but some apparently have: They want him removed. Ruining historical buildings, creating a potential safety risk and not fitting in with the city colors of dust brown, dirt brown, mud brown, tumbleweed beige and dirt red have all been offered as reasons for Bob's impending extinction. Local children have responded to the (they've got to be) geezers causing the stir: Protest.
They've painted pictures and written letters, begging that goofy-grinning Bob be spared. Rumor has it a group will gather to protest Bob's potential removal at tomorrow's ArtWalk. Take the ARN poll and let us know what you think should happen to Bob.
Can they save him in the four months that's been allotted to the Grace to remove him? Who knows. What I do know is that if your needless complaints are the reason children are painting cute pictures begging you not take away a piece of Abilene they treasure, then you have no heart. None. Blackness.
Leave Bob alone.
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Comments
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Posted by: Kelly Apodaca on May 9, 2007 2:26 PM
Leave Bob alone!! We love him!
Posted by: Don Collett on May 11, 2007 10:39 AM
When we come to Abilene, my son loves to drive by the Grace to see Bob. It's too bad some can't see the quirky charm that the sculpture gives downtown. I guess they'd rather have the Grace look as dull as most of the rest of downtown.
Posted by: Jeff on May 11, 2007 4:34 PM
Ironic that a museum would kill off one of its most recognizable historic features. Odd that the "geezers" would want Bob killed off anyway -- they are old enough to remember what Bob stood for: Truth, justice and full-service gas stations. Somewhere, Sinclair weeps.
Posted by: Erin on May 12, 2007 10:29 AM
You know, if the people who want to remove Bob from the building had read our "Prove Us Wrong" piece, they'd know there are better things to do in Abilene than get all riled up over a Volkswagen-chomping faux dinosaur. Maybe they should channel their efforts into a "Don't jump in front of a train" hotline; that seems like the bigger problem downtown.
Posted by: hughes on July 20, 2007 8:50 AM
OK! who's the money behind "Bob" ?