At Ben's memorial, I celebrated that he's the only one that has ever been able to pull me up and out of the water. Each time, he'd patiently, very patiently, work with me until that happened! I know I said that somewhere I have pictures to prove it! I really didn't know if I still had them, but I knew that they did get taken at some point.
Early this morning, while shuffling through some old books and boxes, I found my proof.
Pictured is one of the three distinct times (each during a different trip to the lake) when he worked with me, and worked with me, finally pulling and popping me up and onto the water. He was able to get this uncoordinated, rickety, little engine out of the lake! 🙌
And so, in honor of Bennie, I share this little hidden gem that decided to resurface on this very day. Because 365 days ago today, ugly truth changed the understanding he had, surrounding his placement on this earth. And just like that, his days became painfully and undeniably numbered.
I know it's just a stupid picture, and to an outsider it really is not impressive! I mean, I'm barely stabilized on top of that lake, and doing nothing at all fancy. But to him, and to me, and to all of us that knew Ben, it tells a story about a man who loved his lake, his boat, and his friends. And he would do anything that he possibly could, for any one of us, especially on the lake. It must have made his heart so happy to see his friends find joy on the water. A joy that he was probably born with.
Reliving this memory really hit me, and today, the tears that I've more recently tried to dam up and get a grip over, broke through like a flood. Amongst these messy emotions, I feel a subtle, quiet, yet profound stir to document this moment.
RIP, Bennieboo. I've missed you in so many ways, and this photo represents one of the countless reasons why.
Tonight, I'll raise a glass to you Ben, my beloved friend. Your courageous, quiet fight for your life that started a year ago today, will never be forgotten.
💜💔💜
