Of course you wonder, who is Ben, otherwise you wouldn't have clicked on this blog. The people who have been following me on Facebook now know that, because every year I post a picture of Ben on this date. Ben has been my father and the inspiration for starting my Facebook page 1960-1980 . With this page, I try to give people around my age a happy memory of their childhood. I think the page does as well, if I read the many comments under my posts and followers reviews. My photos evoke a personal memory that people love to share with each other and enjoy recognizing with others. It's like getting “old cows out of the ditch” together. It is also a common reminder of a period when we were young and carefree. 

But now about my dad. In 2012 he became seriously ill, he had lymph node cancer. As those close to you, you feel powerless, you're afraid of losing someone, and the only thing you can do is be there for them. During that period, I often thought back to my childhood and the role my father played in it. He was playing games with us, reading us, watching children's shows, and he enjoyed it visibly. It was a warm and gentle man, who loved family life and was proud of his children. He had a genuine interest in us and the people around him.

The second one from below is my dad. He had four brothers and two sisters. The eldest brother was already in seminary and the youngest sister was still a baby.

Here's my dad pictured with his youngest brother and his father. My grandpa and grandma have always lived in the house in the background.

This is my parents' wedding photo. They married in 1959 and had two children. 

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