Thanks for the memories, Bob!

I just finished watching Bob Barker's last Price is Right and I must say I am a little sad. I have watched the Price is Right for as long as I can remember and have many fond memories. Like in 1993 when I was a camp counselor in Colorado they asked us to pick nicknames for the summer so the kids would not know our real names. My name for 3 months? Plinko. We also made a Plinko board out of cardboard and nails that summer.

A couple of years ago I decided I was not going to move out of California without seeing the Price is Right in person. So Jake, Kyle, Tabetha and I went up to Hollywood and stayed in one of the most ghetto motels I have had the pleasure of laying my head. It actually had three full size beds in it. Anyway, we got up while it was still very dark and waited in line for most of the day. When we got our 15 seconds to impress the producers we realized that we probably didn't have much of a chance based on some of the whackos that had come before us. Although we didn't get called up to contestant's row, it was amazing to sit in the studio and see Bob Barker in person. Two things struck me about him: He wears a ton of makeup and he's kind of rude. But who cares? He's a legend!

By far my favorite memory of The Price is Right is when my grandma Portela called and said that she and my grandpa had gone to the show while they were staying in Arizona for the winter. She did not tell us how she did but she did say she made it to contestant's row. I was working at the DA's office in San Diego and at 10:00 a.m. I told everyone I would be in an interview room for the next hour watching my grandma on The Price is Right. Helen Portela, come on down! There she is, the item up for bid is a pool table, her bid is the closest to the actual price, she's next to Bob! She effortlessly wins a day bed, a living room set, a soda fountain, and a game. On to spinning the wheel...she spins, gives a shout out to all her grandchildren in various states, and lands on a dollar! $1,000 and a bonus spin! She spins again and lands on the dollar! $10,000! At this point I am beside myself and a half a dozen coworkers have joined me in watching the amazing Helen tear it up.

Obviously she has made it to the showcase showdown. Her showcase included a trip to Hong Kong and a trip to Dollywood, among other things. She bids, she's closest, she wins! Up comes grandpa in his trucker hat to hang out with Barker's beauties and Bob. It's just fantastic and one of my fondest memories.

To me The Price is Right will not be the same without Bob, he is The Price is Right. I will definitely miss him.