Posts tagged bob dylan

January 3rd, Bucharest, Romania

Bob,

I really don’t know how to start this letter. I am presuming you are exhausted by letters that start with “I am your biggest fan…” and “Master Dylan, you are the greatest artist ever”, etc.

My story is really simple – I am a 26y old guy from Bucharest, Romania. My name is Mihai Victor – where “Mihai” is the Romanian “Michael” and my folks also named me Victor, coming from victory – the victory that my mother & myself survived a terrible car accident, when she was pregnant with me. Why all this boring info about my name? Well – it’s easy – nobody calls me neither Mihai nor Victor. They all call me BOB. This is the nickname my father gave me when I was just a baby boy. Bob is not at all a Romanian name and I wondered many years why did he chose such a name, a name that people in Romania usually use to name their pet dogs.

My father is 1 year younger than you, born on January 3^rd 1942 and he is a huge fan of yours. Unfortunately he is no longer a living fan of yours. He passed away in September 1994. My father’s life was all about mathematics, music and freedom. He is one of those parents who’s lifetime achievements are extremely hard to follow by his children. Thanks to him, I learned even since my early years, to love people like you, Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, John Lennon, Joan Baez, Johnny Cash and many more. I also learned that my nickname’s godfather is you, Mr. Bob Dylan. He loved you so much that when he heard the news that he is going to be the father of a baby boy, he could not resist calling him Bob. Communism and the era Romania was going through in 1981 when I was born, prevented my parents to give me a non Romanian name – and this is why Bob is just a nickname – a nickname that I’ve been carrying around for 26 years and shared with all my friends, loved ones, school colleagues and work mates. Dad spoke dearly of you and he was very familiar with your work, just as if you were his bigger brother. He knew all you were up to and he sang me your best works.

2007 passed by and one was one of my best years. The only regret that I have about last year was that I could not make it as a spectator at your series of concerts you held throughout Europe. I especially wanted to join you in Amsterdam, on April 8^th and 9^th.

I hope I’ll get to give you a big hug in this lifetime, and if not, I am sure we’ll get the chance in the next one or so. Perhaps I will be able to join your Never Ending Tour in the States or maybe there are chances you will repeat the European tour. Anyway – I wanted to wish you a fabulous 2008, and may you be surrounded only by people that love you and that you love. I’m guessing it’s not easy at all to be as active as you still are and to carry the responsibility of transmitting the message of the generations whose voice you still are.

As I’m working in the online industry, it would be my pleasure and honor to handle an official BOB DYLAN Europe website, if you and the people you work with think it’s appropriate.

My Dad and I wish you all the best.

Happy birthday Dad!

Bob.