TM Herbert, Yosemite Legend

My partner and I were getting ready to do Nutcracker - late '80's probably - and this older guy walks up, asks if he could join us. I had no idea who he was, asked his name. "TM." I was like TM Herbert??!! Hilarity ensued for the next few seasons when we'd catch up with him in the valley or meadows. He'd throw me at the off-hand cracks and talk me through them - between all the banter. We spent sooo much time laughing. Great days and great times. We were so fortunate to have been able to spend time with such a great soul. Happy next life TM!

RIP to a wonderful human being...

I witnessed a truly legendary convo bitd in the Tulomune store lot between TM and Fred Beckey.

Basically, both were talking at the same time in completely unrelated monologues, the other being an oblivious audience going about their own business lol.

Something along the lines of: "we went up there and did a little scrambling..." while the other was "yea, the hitchhike took a week and I slept in a ditch and a polecat tried to steal my dried fruit...." sort of like 2 "ol Gabbys" from a comedy western just rambling along not caring if anyone listened, just having the energy of Gab that had to come out. We were all just an audience for their live performances.

And then they were done and just walked away from the match, the other not giving in lol. A stream of consciousness duel.

"Jumping green Chinese crud I got a saber up my ass!

-TM in Letters from Herbert