
Today I found a box of slides taken mostly by Ben's father.
He was a geologist and loved nature.
He died when Ben was 12.
I felt like I got to know him a little better by
seeing his pictures.
He often took his two children with him on his outings.
This photo was titled "Milkweed."


Ben's father was a diabetic.
Ben has fond memories of carrying a candy bar for his father
In case he needed it.
He worked for the Bureau of Land Management,
and there are boxes of slides of plants, animals
and old Indian ruins in our basement.

Imagine a crib made before plastic.


It was Judith's 8th birthday party.
She is 3rd from the right.
What if they had decided to make this photo "perfect"
And only include the girls?
Can everyone see Kyle in Ben's smile?
He would have been about 4.
Probably all of these dresses were homemade.

Ben was six. Judith was 10.

Notice Ida Mar and Judith have on white gloves.
I suspect Ida Mar made both her dress and Judith's.

There are not many slides of Ben's father.
He was usually behind the camera.
Most of the slides are neatly labeled with his handwriting.

4th of July Parade.
Judith is pulling the float.

He was a Maori, and a red-headed one at that!
Just so you know,
The marks on his face were paint,
But the tattoos on his chest are still there!
ha ha ha.

This one was taken in Leland in 1953.
Notice the metal tinsel on the tree.

His father, also named Ben, is behind him.
Next to his dad is his grandfather, Stephen David.
Ben's name is Ben Stephen.
Stephen David was a bishop for 25 years.

The dog's name is "Boy." I knew that, but Ben's dad labeled it, too.

Ben was in 1st Grade, Judith in 5th.