A letter from Lee Bender

"so i cant really put into words how much this has all meant to me. everyone re-posting the different bulletins that my girlfriend janet, rob locker, or even writing your own...to say its been overwelming would be an understatement at the very least. skateboarding is pretty much the only reason im here, have been anywhere, have done anything with my life asides from gettin some shitty job in northeast indiana. its kept me sane and free to have had as little responsibilities as possible in order to live the life i wanted, experience the sights and sounds that kept me up in the middle of every night. the travel narrative letters i would get frm billy kahn, sleepin it ditches or under bridges. it drove me mad, every winter, sitting in 2 feet of snow...knowing that there is more to it out there than state road 120 winding thru orland indiana...its made me drive for 27 hours straight from west of denver to skate louisville with rick eusey buddy best and steve fauser... since they decided to leave chicago when i was still in iowa...100 miles an hour. these are the days guys and they go by so unpredictibly fast...i just had a doctor meeting and ive still got my reflexes and my strength, so im gonna fuckin pull out of this...everything must rise... like i said, i cant thank you all enough for the thoughts, words, encouragement...everything.. its been unreal..- lee"