{"id":27420,"date":"2022-12-17T07:29:16","date_gmt":"2022-12-17T15:29:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.podfeet.com\/blog\/?p=27420"},"modified":"2022-12-19T20:10:17","modified_gmt":"2022-12-20T04:10:17","slug":"the-night-before-christmas-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.podfeet.com\/blog\/2022\/12\/the-night-before-christmas-6\/","title":{"rendered":"Memory of Honda Bob and The Night Before Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Long-time NosillaCastaways will remember our good friend Honda Bob, especially this time of year. For those of you who don\u2019t know the history, I\u2019d like to relate how we came to know Honda Bob and what he meant to the show and our family.<\/p>\n

Allison and I first met Honda Bob in 1978 when he became our go-to car service and repairman. Since he came to our home to work on our cars, we were able to spend time with him and get to know him as he did his work. It was mainly because of Honda Bob that Allison and I continued to buy only Hondas and Acuras from then on – we just couldn\u2019t imagine having our cars serviced by anyone else.<\/p>\n

\"01
Honda Bob & Steve in 1978<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"02
Honda Bob & Allison with her 1976 Honda Civic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Having your car worked on by Honda Bob was always an interesting experience that included humor, surprises, and just a good time. I recall the time when I came outside to see how our car\u2019s service was coming along. I was a bit shocked to see Honda Bob standing behind the engine compartment with the sound of fluid streaming into a bucket. Although I could only see him from above the waist, he appeared to be relieving himself and had a big guilty grin on his face. As I came around the car, I realized he was just draining the radiator fluid into a bucket and the joke was on me. He sure had a good laugh with that one.<\/p>\n

One thing you learned while watching Honda Bob do his work was to never lean over and stick your head down in the engine compartment. Doing so would undoubtedly result in the horn being honked quite loudly by \u2026 you guessed it. And you could always count on humor that included a chrome muffler bearing somewhere in the joke. He thoroughly enjoyed those moments.<\/p>\n

Honda Bob felt like a member of our family. Our kids grew up knowing Honda Bob and he was like an uncle to them. He used to kid around with them and tell them jokes. When the kids grew up and moved away from home to start their families, he always asked about them and showed a sincere interest in how they were doing.<\/p>\n

\"03
Steve, Bob & Allison at Bob’s Party<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Honda Bob first entered the NosillaCast community back in 2006, one year after Allison started the podcast. She wrote a short segment in NosillaCast #38<\/a> entitled \u201cGeek Mechanic\u201d where she described how Honda Bob not only serviced our cars at our home but also was a geek.<\/p>\n

\"
Honda Bob on AOL Messenger Video Chat with Allison<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She gleefully recalls the time when he called her on a video chat (a rare event back then) using AOL Messenger on a Logitech Quickcam. I\u2019ve included a picture of Honda Bob talking with Allison about Star Trek and how to check transmission fluid levels in the show notes. Yes, Honda Bob was a big Trek fan.<\/p>\n

For a few years, Allison advertised for Honda Bob\u2019s Mobile service on the NosillaCast. It was a bit odd since there aren\u2019t many NosillaCast listeners who live in the Los Angeles area, but we were happy to internationally promote a local service that we loved. As a result of these ads, several people joined in by sending in their own recordings of Honda Bob ads. We received several fantastic and creative recordings, including from Connor, Rose, and Paul from Peru. Good friend-of-the-show, Knightwise, took the Honda Bob commercials to a new level when he submitted an ad for Honda Bob\u2019s Mobile service spoken in the voice and perspective of a Klingon warrior, making Honda Bob an intergalactic celebrity. He loved all of the commercials sent in by NosillaCast listeners, but one was his favorite…<\/p>\n

Knightwise’s Honda Bob’s Mobile Service Ad as a Klingon Warrior<\/a><\/p>\n

Honda Bob became such a fixture of the NosillaCast that, in 2013, I thought we needed a poem to recognize his contributions to the show. I\u2019m not very good with poetry so I decided to co-opt another poem, The Night Before Christmas, and modify it with a hat tip to Honda Bob and an EVER so Slight Apple Bias. This marks the tenth year that we\u2019ve included the poem in the NosillaCast show during the holiday season.<\/p>\n

Sadly, in 2019, we lost our dear friend. But Honda Bob\u2019s memory and the humor and silliness he inspired in the NosillaCastaways will live on. So grab a hot beverage and some cookies, sit back, relax, and enjoy a slightly modified version of The Night Before Christmas, dedicated to Honda Bob.<\/p>\n

\"Honda
Honda Bob Waves<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

The Night Before Christmas
\nwith an EVER So Slight Apple Bias<\/h3>\n

(with credit and apologies to Clement Clarke Moore or Henry Livingston)<\/p>\n

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
\nNot a creature was stirring, not even a . . . track pad; (ok, work with me here)<\/span>
\nThe <\/span>AirPods <\/span>were hung by the chimney with care,
\nIn hopes that<\/span> all things iMaker <\/span>soon would be there;<\/span>
\nThe NosillaCastaways <\/span>were nestled all snug in their beds,
\nWhile visions of<\/span> iPads <\/span>danced in their heads;<\/span>
\nAnd podfeet <\/span>in her ‘kerchief, and I in my <\/span>cravat,
\n<\/span>Had just settled down for a long winter’s <\/span>Skype chat,<\/span>
\nWhen out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
\nI sprang from the<\/span> keyboard <\/span>to see what was the matter.<\/span>
\nAway to the windoze . . . <\/span>I flew like a flash <\/span>drive,
\n<\/span>Tore open the shutters and <\/span>nearly did a nosedive.<\/span>
\nThe moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
\nGave the lustre of<\/span> brushed aluminum <\/span>to objects below,<\/span>
\nWhen, what to my eyes seemed very bizarre,
\n<\/span>But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny <\/span>cars,<\/span>
\nWith a little old driver, <\/span>with whom elves hobnob,
\n<\/span>I knew in a moment it must be <\/span>Honda Bob.<\/span>
\nMore rapid than <\/span>5G his vehicles <\/span>they came,
\nAnd he<\/span> tweeted, <\/span>and shouted, and called them by name;<\/span>
\n“Now, Accord! <\/span>now, <\/span>Civic! <\/span>now, <\/span>Fit <\/span>and <\/span>CR-V!
\n<\/span>On, <\/span>Element! <\/span>on <\/span>Ridgeline! <\/span>on, <\/span>Pilot! <\/span>and <\/span>Odyssey!<\/span>
\nTo the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
\nNow<\/span> drive <\/span>away! <\/span>drive <\/span>away! <\/span>drive <\/span>away all!”<\/span>
\nAs dry leaves that before the reality distortion field endowed,
\n<\/span>When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the <\/span>cloud,<\/span>
\nSo up to the house-top the <\/span>vehicles <\/span>they flew,
\nWith the sleigh full of<\/span> Apple products, <\/span> and <\/span>Honda Bob <\/span>too.<\/span>
\nAnd then, in a twinkling, I heard with a squeal
\n<\/span>The<\/span> skidding and sliding <\/span>of each little<\/span> wheel.<\/span>
\nAs I drew in my head, and was turning around,
\nDown the chimney<\/span> Bob <\/span>came with a bound.<\/span>
\nHe was dressed in coveralls, <\/span>from his head to his foot,
\nAnd his clothes were all tarnished with<\/span> oil <\/span>and soot;<\/span>
\nA bundle of SSDs <\/span>he had flung<\/span> in his Scott-EVest,
\n<\/span>And he looked like<\/span> a geek who was extremely obsessed.<\/span>
\nA wink of his eye and<\/span> a look not too pious,
\n<\/span>Soon gave me to know<\/span> he had an Apple bias;<\/span>
\nHe spoke not a word,<\/span> but texted his concern,
\n<\/span>And filled all the stockings; then<\/span> hit return,<\/span>
\nAnd laying his finger aside his<\/span> levitation app,
\n<\/span>A command to his iPad,<\/span> up the chimney, <\/span>ASAP!;<\/span>
\nHe sprang to his sleigh,<\/span> and his autos, did they bristle,
\n<\/span>And away they all flew<\/span> as if shot from a missile.<\/span>
\nBut I heard him exclaim,<\/span> as the poem prescribed,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Happy Christmas to all,<\/strong><\/em><\/span> and please stay subscribed.”<\/span><\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.podfeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/night-before-christmas-2021.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Long-time NosillaCastaways will remember our good friend Honda Bob, especially this time of year. For those of you who don\u2019t know the history, I\u2019d like to relate how we came to know Honda Bob and what he meant to the show and our family. Allison and I first met Honda Bob in 1978 when he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[147],"tags":[210,1192,2039,1189],"class_list":["post-27420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-posts","tag-christmas","tag-holiday","tag-honda-bob","tag-night-before-christmas"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.podfeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Santa-Bob.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.podfeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.podfeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.podfeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.podfeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.podfeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27420"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.podfeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27420\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27451,"href":"https:\/\/www.podfeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27420\/revisions\/27451"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.podfeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.podfeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.podfeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.podfeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}