Tuesday, January 20, 2015
The best of my childhood memories will always be surpassed with memories of the anticipated annual August visit from my favorite uncle. Having still not figured out the last riddle or trick from the past summer, Ben could be counted on to offer new challenges to carry us through to the following summer. He never ceased to amaze with those outrageous antics. Standing on the top of a bear bottle with one foot and touching his nose with his opposite foot, his lanky limbs had the nimbleness of Houdini. He taught us the great and useful skills of axe throwing and change hunting, as he would reach into his pockets, tossing the handful of change he had into the field; though we thought it was because he was so generous, hindsight tells me it was a great way to get us pesky kids off his back for an hour or so. I still have trouble trying to do that thing he did with crossing his arm while keeping his fingers entwined and fitting his head through the opening he somehow created, man that thing was crazy. I can’t count how many cigarettes and beer harmlessly disappeared from Uncle Ben's summer supplies, to support my brother and his friends, no wonder he had to visit the beer store every day. While I loved the empties he left behind and boy there were lots, my brother sure enjoyed sneaking the full ones. One time he even found a six pax of stubbies he had hidden from the summer past a full year later. I learned the deference between beer and lager, we all know how he loved his lager, “Alpines fine but I sooner Schooner” he would say. I can’t remember how many times Ben caught me up too no good, the innocent kid I was or sneaking in late night cartoons and rather than rat me out, he usually joined me. Ben, I will truly miss you and never stop loving you. Thank you for the memories I shall never forget.
