Ben's Journal

Stevie and Ben had been aware of my journal entries, and after some special fun we

had together Stevie occasionally asked his daddy if Grandpa “wrote about that in his

journal?”

While we were visiting for Ben’s seventh birthday, Ben found an unused spiral

notebook and asked if I would help him begin his own journal.  That night, after his bath,

we lay on the top bunk bed, and Ben asked what he should write; I replied that I would

help with his spelling if he asked me, but advised him to write what he wanted to write

about, not what I would write about, or anyone else.  I added, “It’s your journal, and by

writing down your thoughts and experiences, you will always remember what happened;

what you did, where you were---like tonight, on the top bunk, and who you were with;

and even when you are an old grandpa, the memory of this night will remain vivid.”

The next day, after Ben’s birthday party, we stopped in Borders Book Store where 

Stevie got a sports book and I bought a real journal for Ben.  That night Ben wanted to lie

on the top bunk bed with me again so we could write in our journals together.  As

Grandma Sandy and I departed for home the next day, I gave Ben my “good pen” for

him to make his journal entries.

When we next visited the kids at New Year, 2007, Ben looked high and low for his

journal, unable to find it.  A few weeks later, while packing his clothes in preparation for

a sleepover at a friend’s, Ben found the journal in his backpack. According to Bill, Ben’s

first reaction was to call to tell me!