Smile for Robert
Sometimes life is really hard and unfair. It can bring a deafening grief that is so loud it tries to drown out the joy that is trying to still exist in the wake of the pain. Such is the case of losing our dear friend, Robert Amar. His family is in the early stages of trying to figure out how to keep putting one foot in front of the other in his earthly absence and it is no easy task. Robert is irreplaceable and his void is tremendous. Even still, his family has found a way to enrich others’ lives in a profound way and we get to be a part of it out here at WhistleStop Acres. It is a lesson on legacy, love, and grit that we need more of in this world and we are humbled to be a witness and portion of the example that is being lived out.
Robert was a man of integrity, strength, perseverance, kindness, joy, humor, intelligence, determination, tenacity, and love. He had the spirit of a giant and a smile that was bigger than Texas. He could melt you hard with one flash of those pearly whites and once you met him, you never forgot him, nor will you ever forget him. Robert was all those things, but he was also someone fighting ALS for 14 years. Bit by bit, that horrific disease took away his ability to walk, talk, move, or do any of the things he once soared at doing. One wretched attack at a time, the disease stole his body. But you know what it never was able to steal? His ability to live… I mean really, really LIVE! As each system of his body failed, it was as if it began a deeper strength of his spirit and inner drive. The harder things were physically, the more he shined brightly in this world! Robert taught all of us that life isn’t fair, but it can still be oh so good.
He is teaching us that even still. It’s his legacy. That is what makes it even louder to grieve him.
We have started a new VIP experience at the ranch, and it is because Robert Amar lived life out loud and his legacy is to encourage others to do the same. His sweet wife, Angela, reached out and asked if we ever have people that are differently abled out. We absolutely do. We have space for them and make it is welcoming as possible. But, in all honestly, it is limited for them. Accessibility to the ponds, the lake, the back acreage, all would be limited because it wouldn’t be easy or safe outside us driving them around. They had gotten Robert an All-Terrain wheelchair because of that very reason. He loved the outdoors, loved animals, loved being in nature, but his failing body and his wheelchair limited him. The hope was for him to visit us one day. Life isn’t fair and he never got to use that chair, but Angela felt strongly that gifting it to the ranch for others to use was exactly what Robert would want. I was humbled and overwhelmed, but also so inspired. I immediately began to craft the way it would be used. It will be available for as needed at anything we do out here, but I wanted to create VIP experiences that are personal, intimate, and exactly what a VIP would want/ need it to be.
October 13, 2024, just a few months after losing sweet Robert, we held a dedication day where family and friends came together to commission the chair into service and love on each other in nature as a hug to Robert. It was the perfect day of tears, laughter, live music, good food, and the joy of what Robert is doing even still to change lives through how he lived his life.
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but even if things are hard, if you look past the circumstances, there is something beautiful that is waiting. Robert personified that beautifully and gifted us with the chance to help others as well. So, keep going. Keep smiling. Sit with the hard and know it’s real, but just keep going through. It’s worth it!
And if you know of a family that would benefit from the VIP experience, go fill out the forms on the website! We are excited to host our first family soon and can’t wait for many more!
Smiling for Robert,
Robin