The Tao of Bob

by Spike Gillespie

This memoir is the unlikely story of how, Bob, an 87 year-old midwestern farmer, moved from Mooresville, Indiana to Garfield, Texas in 2016, to live with Spike, a middle-aged woman with a punk rock sensibility and a ranch that fell into her lap. Spike had zero knowledge of how to run the ranch, an abandoned meth lab and junkyard when she bought it. Bob was exhausted from having spent years caring for his wife of 66 years, who died a long, slow death. Total strangers when they met, Bob and Spike fast became best friends. Bob, aka Pop, taught Spike how to run the ranch. Spike made Pop into a social media star. More importantly, he helped heal her from a shattered heart and the extreme trauma she experienced at the hands of Peter, a Narcissistic Abuser who led a secret double life full of darkness and deceit. It didn't take long for Bob to also take on the role of honorary father and re-parent Spike, helping her overcome the damage of childhood abuse, too. In Spike, Pop found a partner in crime. Left to their own devices, the two of them had more fun than a couple of teenagers whose parents had gone away for the weekend with the warning, "Now you kids, don't get into trouble!" They ate candy for dinner and did donuts in Bob's golf cart on the lawn. They discovered the healing properties of THC. They laughed their asses off. And together they discovered that, if you open your mind, you can discover True Love can be found in the most unlikely places. This collection includes interlocking pieces about their time together with a cast of characters including a horse with cancer, a flock of very funny chickens, Chuck Norris, snakes in the house, Weekend Vampires, lesbian brides, gospel singers, rock n' rollers, and a whole host of others. It's a story of deep pain, tremendous healing, and enduring love.

Genres: Nonfiction

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 24, 2018

Reviews

[Hank Stuever · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a writer, my friend Spike Gillespie can do instinctively what others spend years and much money trying (and failing) to do — the beautifully written, spill-all memoir. Reading this gave me much sorrow, as Spike suffers through an abusive relationship with the Wrongest Man of all, a cruel, textbook narcissist. But, like a ray of good hope, it’s also the story of Spike’s miraculous acquaintance with Bob, who arrived in her life and lived at her ranch just at the right moment. I love this book and so will you.

[Penny Cipolone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upfront disclaimer: Spike is a former Latin student of mine. I taught her for three years, and I consider myself lucky to be one of her friends. This book is another step in the process of Spike becoming the wonderful, talented woman she is today. This glorious story tells how she and Bob (an 88 year old retired farmer) became roommates on her Texas Tiny T ranch, and how the two generations helped each other through difficult times and became dear friends. At long last Spike found a father figure she could trust. I totally enjoyed this book although as usual there were times I just wanted to be Cher and tell Spike to "Snap out of it." That is why she needed an understanding person like Bob to get her through a rough patch of life.

[Julia Smillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot even pretend to be unbiased about this book. I’ve known Spike for nearly 30 years and was one of her many Facebook followers who got to know and love Bob through their posts. How is it possible I miss a man I never got to meet. Here’s what I do know: this is a remarkable story and proof that you never know when life will bring you exactly what you need. And this is some of Spike’s best writing ever, carefully-crafted and with a depth of insight and emotional honesty you just know Bob had something to do with making possible.