16 Magazine - September 1970 (Typed by Carol R.)

My Secret Scrapbook

Dear Bobby,

I know you receive so many letters that you may not be able to read mine. Maybe some secretary will read this instead, but that doesn't matter. I feel that I really want to write to you, especially since I just got home from seeing your concert – and that's what is important! Your show was fantastic! I'll never forget tonight – and I want to thank you for coming to my home town.

I realize that a lot of your fans get angry with you 'cos you can't answer all of their letters. I've written to you once before – and even though you didn't write back, I understand! Besides, you don't have to write to me to convince me that you're a great guy. I already know you are! Before tonight, I thought I knew the kind of person you are from all the stories I read about you – but now I know it for sure! You see, Bobby, I went to enjoy your show, but you gave much more than a great performance – you gave me (and everyone in the audience) – a chance to "visit" with you!

I guess you might think I'm silly to say all of this. You could even be laughing as you read my letter. But tonight (although I didn't actually get to meet you and talk to you) – I feel that I did get to know the real Bobby Sherman. And I think you understand everything I'm saying, too. Bobby, when you were on stage – you weren't just performing. You were communicating with us – and you reached every single person in that huge audience! Every time you looked in my direction – I felt as though you were talking or singing just to me. The wonderful thing is that each and every other person in the audience felt the very same way! In other words, you got close to all of us – and we'll never forget it! Thank you again, Bobby, for the great show. But even more – thank you for just being you!

Mary Jo Johnson
Birmingham, Alabama

As I read this letter from Mary Jo, I felt good all over. I receive many letters that touch me the way this one did, and because these letters (your letters) are so special to me – I want to save them! So, in addition to keeping private photos, I also save letters, postcards, poems and other thoughtful things you care enough to send me. These all have a special meaning to me – and a special place in my secret scrapbook!

As I sit here, looking through the pages of my scrapbook, I feel many different emotions. Letters like Mary Jo's make me feel happy – not just because she said so many nice things about me and my show (although I do appreciate her kind words), but because she understands. When I get a letter like the one Mary Jo sent – it makes all the traveling I do so worthwhile.

Of course, some of the letters in my scrapbook make me feel sad. There's one letter from a little girl who wrote to me because she was lonely and she knew I would understand. She doesn't have any friends – and like me, when I was a little boy and invented an imaginary friend named "Frank," this little girl has a secret pal, too. When I read her letter, I relived all of my lonely years and I understood what she was going through. The good thing was that she also wrote that she read how I overcame my shyness, started making real friends and outgrew my need for "Frank." She wrote to tell me that she was going to take my advice and give herself a chance to make real friends and be happy. Needless to say, I was very pleased that my experiences could help someone I never met. And even though we may be strangers in actuality, we do have a common bond – and I feel very close and care very much for this shy little girl.

As you can see, the letters in my secret scrapbook are all very different, but they have one thing in common – they are all from people I care very deeply about. I wouldn't be surprised if your letter is in there!