So proud of you Ben – this is the best news ever. You’re going to have an epic experience!
congrats on getting accepted to UNH’s School of Engineering!
Category Archives: favorite memories of you
funny photos of Ben-Jammin’
you made my day – found this in my briefcase at a meeting!
thanks Ben
Your Mom sent me a text the other day… it was about a conversation the two of you had.
You said:
“Papa is no ordinary grandpa. I don’t know how to explain it… he’s amazing.”
I replied:
OMG Nicole, when did he say that?
She said:
Tonight, when we got home. The kids were talking about going to your house tomorrow night and were all excited.
I texted back:
I’m a very lucky man, and the best part is I know it!
Your Mom said:
they love you so much!
I’m not sharing this to brag or anything, but because it was such a special thing to hear… and for you to say! Thanks Ben, I love you so much.
Here’s my favorite photo of the two of us. It was taken by Molly a few weeks ago!
GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!
This afternoon your played your first Winter soccer game, on a team with other Dover kids, playing in an indoor stadium in Hampton.
Last Fall you played soccer (as you have for many years), but your coach used you as a defenseman in every single game. You did a great job, but she never gave you a chance to try offense, despite the fact that you’re one of the quickest and strongest kids on the team. You love soccer – it’s your favorite sport – and I love to watch you do your thing no matter what position you play. But I have trouble understanding why an eight year old would be restricted to one position.
Play the field! Try every position! See what you can do!
So anyway, tonight – on your new team – your new coach put you on offense after playing you the first half on defense. He’s a new coach, and he doesn’t know you yet, and he’s more open minded.
The other team was tough – you played them in Fall soccer. They are relentless and ran the score up. Finally Dover got off a solid kick, the shot hitting the right upper side of the goal and then taking a left turn inward. You assisted on the shot. Score!
Late in the game, down by five goals at least, you put your foot into the ball with assertiveness and it soared in a floating arc over the goalie’s head. You had scored your first goal!
playing your first indoor soccer game the day you scored your first goal you lined up with the goal straight on and let your leg fly into the ball. It lifted up high - like a field goal kicker's kick - and sailed well above their relentless goalie's head and arced in seeming slow motion into the goal.
Everyone congratulated you at the end of the game; we were so happy for you. You were a little surprised, and very low key, I could tell, but you were glowing from the moment. It was like you couldn’t believe it had happened.
Way to go Ben, way to go. I’m proud of you!
the kindling of imagination
The first book in the Lemony Snicket “unfortunate events” series was on your kitchen counter, so I asked how you liked it. Having read the first five, I was anxious to hear your reaction. It’s an unusual theme … dark and foreboding, not unlike Harry Potter.
“I like it. I got it from the school library.”
I told you I read the first five books and had them at home. “Would you like to read them?” “Yes,” you replied without hesitation.
Next time you came to my house, you immediately asked about the books. “Papa where are those Lemony Snicket books?” 
“In my office… in my bookcase.” You marched in and took them. “You don’t have the fifth one,” you said, “but I’ll get it from the library.”
One of the most amazing things about you is your love of reading. You have an insatiable appetite! You always have a book in-the-works and often read several per week. In fact, three days after you took volumes 2, 3, 4 of Snicket I inquired and you had already read them!
Your favorite book series is Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I haven’t read any so you told me I could bring one home…”take the red one, that’s the first one.” I did.
I gave you the first book in the Harry Potter series and hope you enjoy it. I’d like to read it with you – or talk about it – and someday 
visit Hogwarts at Universal Studios. Here’s a picture of you “reading” Harry Potter when you were but a wee bitty pup. The seeds of reading were planted at a young age, my friend.
Keep on reading your entire life Ben. Reading is knowledge and awareness – yes – but it’s also the kindling of creativity, curiosity and imagination. It will take you to wonderful new places and always be a good friend.
you crack me up
The other day we were driving together in the Youk… it was you, Emma & Camden in the “way back.” Ainsley was in the second row… I was driving and Grammy was riding shotgun.
You guys often ask us to load a DVD, so we popped in one of the Classic Christmas cartoon series your Mom watched when she was your age.
You were controlling the DVD remote and next thing we know the show is playing … in Spanish.
You thought that was h-i-l-a-r-i-o-u-s, laughing up a storm with your nearby cousin and sister who felt the same way. Grammy said something about switching it to English mode so Ainsley could understand it, but you weren’t about to end the fun.
It was funny… we were laughing right along with you… I’ve never heard a cartoon in Spanish… and why not? It freshens the boredom of normal and delivers new perspective. Hearing familiar words spoken in a different language made me appreciate all those Dora the Explorer episodes.
When I think back to how shy you used to be, and I contrast those days with your now highly developed sense of humor, I smile with pride. It’s no mystery where you got it… your Mom & Dad have amazing pespectives and automatically find humor in everyday life.
Keep laughing your whole life Ben, it will keep you centered, whole and happy.
the Christmas movie you listened to in Spanish
why you’re special to me
Ben!
You were the one who opened the door… welcoming me into the amazing world of grand-parenting (or in my case PaPa-ing).
I’ll always remember the day you were born… I was holding you in my arms in your hospital room… it was late at night and the lights were low. Grammy was there and of course your Mom & Dad.
I held you over my left shoulder…then in an instant I’ll never forget… you picked your head up off my shoulder – straight up – and looked at me and then around the room. So many emotions rushed through me… What a smart baby! What a strong baby! What a curious little baby! This one’s going places.
I love this little guy.
This was the first time I felt pride in who you were… but it wasn’t the last. That feeling of overwhelming pride has hit me a zillion times since as I’ve watch you transform from shy and hesitant to curious and bright to free and funny to a a competitor and achiever.
We’ve been through some amazing times together, so many adventures. To this day – and always – there’s no better feeling for me than being around you.
Being my first grandchild, it was you & me without competition from sisters or cousins for over two years…we forged such a deep bond. I love the photo of you and me in the “blue room” at my house when you used to live with us. Every night we’d go up there after dinner and play with your Thomas trains… building incredible layouts. You knew every single train name. I’ll always remember how you learned to move the trains so precisely on a sometimes fickle wooden track to make everything run… smoothly. You were keenly observant and precisely detailed.
You were also a free spirit… you loved nothing better than knocking down the spiral roller coaster track I had worked on for an hour… knocking it down was a lot of fun.
At the end of our play time, your Dad would come upstairs and try to ease-into a challenging conversation of “it’s time for bed Ben. You have 10 more minutes.” You hated ending it and would often let him know exactly how you felt. It usually ended badly! You know what? I hated ending our play time too… I could have done it until Midnight every single night and never had enough.
There are so many stories to tell about the Benjamin Baby who became Ben… and that’s why I created this blog… to remember the incredible times we’ve had together.
Thanks for being my special Papa Buddy. I am the luckiest man in the world because of you. I love you.