"Love You, Miss You, And Keep On Practicing, But Don't Wait Up, Okay?"

We be jammin', he liked jammin' too!

• Yesterday was the one year "anniversary" of our son's passing. He was gonna be thirty-four. Love him and miss him and sure wish he was here, but hard as he tried, he just couldn't beat his illness. I really don't give the after life much thought, but wherever he is, I hope he has found some peace and can focus on the really important things like what pitch to throw on a 0-2 count, and… how to tell a joke before laughing away the punch line. Also, how to set the hook on one of those beautiful California golden trout we never did learn how to catch." How to make a model airplane without losing the clear plastic canopy, or perfect your delicious fish taco that Mario taught you how to make, and, and… how to go Pete Townsend on your guitar without scrapping your knuckles!
  
  Oh, and lastly, how to introduce yourself to one of those pretty young angels, high up in those clouds!
  
  Forever…
  
  Dad
  

  Copyright 2014/ Ben Bensen III

  
  
  

"This Guy's In Love With You"... And, The Purple Drugstore!

He thought it was "schmalzy, but so what...

It was 1969 at the Katz and Besthoff drug store on the corner of Broadway and St. Charles Avenue. It was across from Dominican College, where my then, girl friend, went to school and worked. There was a juke box inside. On her lunch break,  we'd occasionally have a malt and a burger and for a quarter, I believe, you could play three tunes. I'd always play BS&T's Blues Part II, Creedence's, "Susie Q", and "This Guy's In Love With You!"

For the record, on this date in history: June 22, 1968- "This Guy's In Love With You" by Herb Alpert hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and the record produced by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss.

It was not only Alpert's first No. 1 single, but it was also the first No. 1 single for his A&M record label. The song held the #1 position on the Hot 100 for 4 weeks, and also spent ten weeks at No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart. Herb Alpert's Singing Debut...

It was kind of a "schmalzy" song, and not all that well sung, but the song became one of Therese's and my favorites! I liked it enough to have Edgar Winter, my then, brother-in-law, show me how to play it on the piano...

And, I still remember how to play it... I'm such a sentimentalist!

Copyright 2014/ Ben Bensen III

"We Lost Most Of Our Pictures Of Dad In The Katrina Flood, But..."

Three Generations...

I don't have many pictures of my father since Hurricane Katrina flooded my parent's home, but damn, I can't find a better moment that depicts my relationship with my son, and my father than this...

http://youtu.be/Yy6sSp6IY7c

Yeh, I had to bury my head into my wife's shoulders, and like a baby, I just came apart when he said,

"Hey Dad... wanna have a catch?"

 Happy Father's Day, y'all...

Copyright 2014/Ben Bensen III

"A Farm, Smack Dab In The Middle Of Suburbia!"

On location painting...

Late last fall, I found this citrus (Satsumas) farm, smack dab in the middle of a suburban neighborhood. I was struck by the orange barn that was all the more illuminated by the evening sun and the long fall shadows. I painted this on location in three sessions. Originally, I attempted painting the whole farm with trees full of the orange fruit, but soon realized it would be better suited for the studio. The painting has a stark, well defined, graphic look which I love, and is what attracted me originally. You can get a better look and maybe purchase a print at: 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/lonesome-road-satsumas-ben-bensen-iii.html

Copyright 2014/ Ben BensenIII