You will see that, ultimately, this musing is about the idea called six degrees of separation.  You might wonder about that when you first start reading, so bear with me.  In case you didn't know, six degrees of separation (also referred to as the "Human Web") refers to the proposal that, if a person is one step away from each person they know and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people they know, then everyone is at most six steps away from any other person on Earth.  File that in the back of your mind for now.

 

Last night my wife and I attended a local show that headlined Bob Newhart of TV fame.  He is the same Bob of The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart, both very successful shows (note that I don't say Mr. Newhart since I am over 70 and rarely call anyone Mr., even if they are a celebrity or older than me, which he is; I feel earned that right by living this long). I enjoyed his shows very much when they were on TV and even now I watch the reruns to view the shows I missed when the shows were on the air.  Those shows were so good, that to this day the final show of the second TV series, Newhart, is ranked as the very best of final shows throughout TV history - and I would concur with that ranking.

 

Certainly everyone who is over 40 know about Bob.  Perhaps if you are older, like me, you might also remember how he got this start as a standup comedian.   He was funny as a guest on several other shows including Dan Martin's and Ed Sullivan's. In 1960, he made a album (an LP back then) titled, The Button Down Mind Of Bob Newhart.  I bought that LP when it first came out and still have it to this day.  Ah, now we start to put the pieces of this musing together which leads to that six degrees of separation idea.  Hang on.

 

Since I was going to see his show, I thought I'd take that well worn, but usable album with me to get his autograph.  My first attempt was to talk to some of the ushers who suggested I talk to the house manager or someone in the office about my request.  Office personnel told me that Bob's number one rule is that there was to be no contact between the theatre's staff or the audience and him or his staff. 

 

No wanting to give up, I had a second plan.  Our seats were in the first row, a matter of a few feet from Bob.  I thought when the show was over and he was taking his bows I might catch his eye by showing the album and entice him to autograph it.  I was even prepared to give him an autographed copy of my book, Late Night Musings.  I thought being 80 years old he might enjoy it.

 

It turned out this plan failed as well.  I didn't get the album signed thought I did enjoy the show.  I guess what bothered me is that I've had that album with me for fifty years, longer that I've had any wife with me.  It seemed that Newhart would have had the courtesy of signing the album since he has been with me that long, and we are soon to celebrate our Golden Anniversary together.

 

So now, back to my opening to this musing which turns out to be a request to you.  I am asking each reader of this musing (I'm sending to everyone on my email address list) to send it on to everyone they know especially to anyone who might get this closer to Bob.  Maybe a newspaper or TV news program will latch on to it and help it move along.  According to the theory of six degrees of separation, someone who forwards it on for the sixth time will do so to Bob.  If you do forward this, you will not have good luck, inherit a fortune or get a guaranteed a ticket into heaven.  All you will do is help me get my album autographed which I think I earned. 

 

And should this endeavor be successful and Bob finally gets it, I have a message for Bob.  Bob, do you think we might arrange to have you sign my album in recognition of our 50th anniversary?  For my part, I'll be happy to give you a copy of my book, Late Night Musings.  If you hang on to it for 50 years, look me up and I'll be happy to sign it for you.