Trib Update

For those who may not know, the inestimable Trib, eponymous host of Trib’s Place, was hospitalized on Boomershoot Day with an apparent stroke that severely limited his speech. When we bloggers left Monday morning, Kenda had been able to speak to Bob in his hospital room and he was lucid, talkative, and much more clear in his speech. So that was a good sign.

Dave the RNS Staff Photographer spoke with Kenda about midweek and she was in Spokane where Trib had been transferred; there was the possibility of a pacemaker being necessary.

Trib is a feisty curmudgeon of the highest water, and has one of the most utterly deadpan wits I’ve encountered in my 40 years. All the gunbloggers who’ve had the pleasure of his company have him in our thoughts.

More updates on his condition as I get them.

With that, here’s a True Trib Anecdote from Boomershoot Weekend. Dialogue is paraphrased in spots but is as close as I remember.

SCENE: The Lundberg (Lodge) Room, in which DEREK of The Packing Rat blog, JD of Ballistic Deanimation blog, ET of TowhichIreplied blog, and DAVID and DAVE of Random Nuclear Strikes blog are all seated chatting. (BONNIE and BENNETT of Squeakywheelseeksgrease blog might have been present too; I can’t remember.)

Enter TRIB.

TRIB (to DEREK): So, I hear you play a mean piano.

DEREK: (Surprised.) Who told you that?

TRIB: Yeah, they say you’re a really good piano player. (Gestures to the Baby Grand.) Why don’t you tickle the ivories there and play us a nice tune?

DEREK: I don’t play piano. In fact, I don’t play any instrument at all except the drums and…

TRIB: Really, don’t be shy, go ahead! It’s a nice piano. Sounds great when it’s played well.

…(pause)

DEREK: Is this just because I’m Asian and wear glasses?

TRIB: Oh, you don’t want to play, then. Well, that’s all right. You can play for us later. (Exits, cackling under his breath.)