August 21
August 21
I was lucky enough to be Ben's piano teacher when he was about 7-9 years old. He was a special student to me because of his sweet disposition; even though he rarely practiced (which he would shyly admit) I just didn't have the heart to scold him, and so we would spend the lesson time just basically doing the practicing together. What I remember most though is that my own boys, who were very little at the time, around 3 and 4 years old, would look forward to Ben's lesson because he would stay and play with them afterwards while his brother Mason had his lesson. Ben was always patient and gentle with them, and they looked up to him in tremendous admiration, almost as their hero. I will always remember him as that gentle boy with a sweet smile, and the patience to play with those younger than him that most older boys would disdain. May his gentle soul rest in peace.