I only began spending time with Uncle Benton over the last year or so. He was a feisty one, even as his health began to fail. I manage to get a smile, a story, a wink or “that look.” He shared a long list of singers and singing groups he liked. One was the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi. I had never heard of them. We would listen to them when I visited.
There are a couple of memories with Uncle Benton that make my heart smile. One was us playing checkers. I was talking a little trash because that’s what you do. Well, this old fella may have been losing his memory but he remembered how to jump my men 😊! I told him, this was not supposed to go this way. He smiled and winked. We didn’t finish our game, not because I quit LOL! It was lunch time for him. We never got to finish.
The second, He told me some snacks he was able to have so I brought them. He was eating the watermelon and not talking much. I told him I would put his name on the snacks and put them in the kitchen for him for later. He gave me “that look” like I snatched his last chicken wing. I couldn’t make out everything he said but I did get they “these are my snacks and they are going to stay with me.” And so they stayed with him.
Even though my time with Uncle Benton was short. I am blessed to have shared space and time with him.
