Replies

Thank you PE. Those look like Benny's boots too. In all the last years those boots looked well used from riding, but they were always either on him - or sitting there like that. Don't think I ever saw him with any other kind of footwear.

He loved the U.S. Navy. Got out in the 60's but always said he should have stayed. He was in the Pacific and it was during the first years of Viet Nam but he would never talk about anything but things he liked about the Navy so I really don't know if he ever saw hard situations or not. Amend that - I should say - I don't know what unpleasant and difficult things he saw there.

My grandfather was one of those who always said "If you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all." Benny is one of the very few people I've known in my life who actually *lived* that. He would say something kind about people most of us detested but if he ever just was quiet and kinda grunted you knew that he was having a hard time finding something good to say about whoever.

Through the years I have traveled over nearly half the U.S. with Benny. (all western states) Everywhere we went people would come up that he knew. I mean - we would be 5 states away from McGregor, Texas, his hometown, and someone would come up at a restaurant or convenience store and say, "Bennyyyy.." And he would know them from somewhere. You got used to it after a while. LOL

He made me a real good dad. And he made my kids a real good Granddad too. He just fell into that role years ago and always seemed to like it. If he could he would travel with me on long trips to make sure I was safe. When he couldn't travel with me, he would make give him an itinerary, call when I left, check in with him and call to let him know I arrived safely at all destinations. He never let me leave on a trip without giving my bike a thorough "going-over" or making sure my car or truck was in shape. Until Benny took that role in my life I always thought it odd that other people had dads or other folks looking after them like that. It took some getting used to but Benny insisted.

My biological dad - I try to respect in every way I can - but he told me years ago that he just didn't like me and didn't really care if he never saw me again. I was broke down on the side of Interstate 35 one hot July with both my kids young, I was 5 miles from my mom and dad's house and they would not come help us or pick us up to get us off the highway. That was before cell phones so I could call Benny or others for help. Used a pay phone to call parents but they wouldn't help. Got help from some stranger that stopped on the Interstate and replaced fan belt for me.

Benny even helped a lot in teaching me to think the best of my parents. There is not a lot of warm fuzzy things to say about my relationship with my parents... but except for what I'm sharing now you will find that I try to just say the good about my mom and dad. Benny encouraged that. He knew my dad growing up and just said, "Kimberly, your dad can't help being how he is." And Benny was always there to fill in that place of "dad" for me. God rest his soul... I do know and have peace that Benny is with Jesus now.