Ben's birthday!

Ben is 26 today. So really quick, here are three of my favorite Ben stories.

1. Call from Salem Hospital 3:00 in the morning, need permission to treat Ben. He was found drunk in the middle of a street. He was about 16 at the time. When I went in to the emergency room, the first thing he said (or slurred) was "Please don't cancel my snowboard camp." Oh, and it was the day before Mother's Day.

2. Call from Sprague High. Ben had been hanging posters for some garage band's upcoming performance. He was told he needed to have permission, needed to take them down, he refused, was put in the "Options Room." Okay. Then the secretary took a breath, "And now he's chained himself to the desk in protest." I laughed. [Admit it, you did too.] She wasn't so happy. I tried to control my giggles and squeaked out, "Um, is there something you need me to do?" "No, we're just required to let you know." Later his friends put up signs, "Free Ben Bolen, prisoner of free speech." Brooke was mortified (a year behind him in the same school).

3. Call from my Dad. Notice all of these are me getting a phone call from somebody. Anyway, odd that Dad calls me. "Hey, Dad, how are you doing?" "Not very G** Da***d well. I just saw my grandson getting arrested on TV." During the war protests, crowds were ordered to stay out of the street. Ben stepped off the curb to see what was going on down the block. Charges (disorderly conduct, I think) later dropped.

Our free spirit, kind hearted, vegan, charitable Ben. Happy Birthday. I love you.