LBOH, the big 2-0.

For those of you who may not know the history. The LBOH was established in 1990. All of us lifelong friends were trying to figure out how to get together and hang out and not lose touch with each other.

We have been classmates since kindergarten and prayer class. We went to St. Mary's and Malta Elementary. We graduated together. We traded places in each other's weddings and unfortunately helped some bury a parent by then. We needed an excuse to get together that wasn't a wedding or a funeral.

We discussed it again in 1989 at Delmer's wedding. Heading back to the camper, we lamented at the fact that we didn't know when we would get together again. It was Adrian who said he had a plan and if it worked, we wouldn't have to worry anymore about seeing each other at least once a year.

The following March, Adrian was in Bozeman and gave me the idea. I thought it was better than good. It was past brilliant. Words can't describe it.

There was no name for it at its inception. "The Big Schmear" was one that was thrown around but it wasn't gaining traction. At camp the first night, it was Leonard who called it the LBOH.

"Why?" someone asked.

"It was on the invitaion. Lonely bachelors and oppressed husbands, unite for a weekend of solidarity. L-B-O-H"

With that, the term LBOH was born. It has grown from its original eight charter members. It is an event that can be described in words but you really have to be there in order to feel its full weight. No girls aloud. No wives. No daughters. We eat good. We drink better and we forget about life for four days.

People say its "a drunken party". While there is significant drinking its not about that at all. Its about one thing and one thing only and that is a commitment to our friendship. These are friendships forged out of 40 years of joy and pain. Where stories almost always have the same players. "This one time Delmer, Ralph and I......" "Hey Adrian, who as with you when Ralph hit Mr. Maynard in the nuts with the eraser?" "Chip, remember when Adrian pushed you into Sister Helen and you gave her that flat tire on her heel?" Things like that. I don't know how else to describe how good of men these guys are other than to say that when my father passed away almost 15 years ago, every one of them came to Malta so support me and my family.

What we have actually transcends friendship and the guys who have been invited to camp since LBOH 1 have done nothing except make the experience better. Guys from Minnesota, Wyoming, Texas, Colorado, and Wisconsin travel to Montana every year just to sit at the fire, drink beer, eat steak and laugh their asses off. But they really come to share their friendship. And that is what the LBOH is really all about.

This year was the 20th LBOH. Twenty years in a row. Absolutely no signs of stopping. Not while I'm drawing a breath. Like Mark said "I'm coming to this every year til I'm dead and then a couple more after that."

I'll be posting photos in the next few days for the boys who were there and whoever else wants to read about it.

There is only one rule. Do not violate the prime directive. And that is.........

DONT FALL ASLEEP AT THE FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wouldn't you agree Mark?

And you to Ralph?

Thanks to Uncle Scott for the pics.