Author Archives: ivanbenson

About ivanbenson

I am a former singer, guitar player, writer, story teller, voice over talent, and a current heart attack survivor in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

Follow The Yellow Brick Road

Posted on August 20, 2013 by ivanbenson

There’s nothing like a great story, is there? A great story can lift your spirits when you’re feeling down; it can take you on adventures that are both enthralling and enthusing; it can transport not only your mind, but also … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging Parents, Assisted Living, Family History, Fathers, Nursing Homes, Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged 15 years old, 1939, C.S. Lewis, communication, Cowardly Lion, Dorothy, Elton John, flying monkeys, Follow the yellow brick road, Holland Michigan, Horace Greeley, http://whitestonemp.com/film/heartless-the-story-of-the-tin-man/, Judy Garland, Keeshond, L. Frank Baum, metaphysical, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, nemesis, Peekskill New York, ruby slippers, Scarecrow, Smithsonian, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, story, The Emerald City, The Wizard of Oz, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Tin Man, Toto, Whitestone, Yellow Brick House, Yellow Brick Road | 10 Comments

Life in Bold Relief

Posted on August 17, 2013 by ivanbenson

It has been 65 days since I last made an entry on this blog. For a good while prior to that it was a weekly exercise to which I looked forward with great expectation. But in June, the press of … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging Parents, Assisted Living, Family History, Nursing Homes, Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged 1988, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Alzheimer's, beauty, bold relief, cancer, character, death, dross, Fulghum, gravity, Life, obscurity, sobering, tragedy | 11 Comments

Night Riding (The Way Things Used to Be)

Posted on June 12, 2013 by ivanbenson

Childhood memories are almost indelible, aren’t they? I can remember lying in the floorboard of our black 1951 Plymouth, sleeping cozily on the left side of the hump that ran thru to the backseats; the hum of the engine and … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging Parents, Family History, Fathers, Stories, Uncategorized, World War II | Tagged 1 Corinthians 13, 1951, 1963, air conditioning, Alseep in the Deep, Bible, box fan, chattanooga, church hymns, cottonfields back home, Drink to me only with thine eyes, Edgar Allan Poe, Ezio Pinza, Father's Day, ice plant, magical, Norden Bomb Site, Plymouth, Plymouth Fury, push button automatic, razor strop, sacred, The Raven, Tucson, Wing Tee Wee | 18 Comments

The Birds (Hitchcock Ain’t Got Nothin’ on Us)

Posted on May 14, 2013 by ivanbenson

Alfred Hitchcock was an amazing filmmaker, wasn’t he? But I find it hard to forgive him for his 1963 horror film, “The Birds.” It scarred me for life! That is said tongue in cheek, of course. At least . . … Continue reading →

Posted in Comedy, Family History, Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged Alfred Hitchcock, birds, F-22 Raptor, fear of birds, fledgling, Google, horror, marauder, Norman Rockwell, Orkin roach trap, The Birds | 8 Comments

Mother’s Day 2013

Posted on May 12, 2013 by ivanbenson

“Happy Mother’s Day!” That’s what I’d like to say to My Mother, today. But she is on a journey that has taken her away. She missed Dad’s birthday party as well as her own earlier this month, and she was … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging Parents, Assisted Living, Family History, Fathers, Nursing Homes, Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged 2012, 2013, abusive, Arizona, bound, children, death, dependent, DNA, dreams, Georgia, loving, Mother's Day, neglectful, nurturing, orange tree, relationships, symbiotic, Tennessee, Texas Ranger bush, yellow roses | 6 Comments

The Cane in the Corner

Posted on May 7, 2013 by ivanbenson

There is a walking cane that sits in the corner of one of the rooms in our house; it belonged to my mother. She used it up until her back surgery and recovery last year. After that, she was confined … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging Parents, Assisted Living, Family History, Fathers, Nursing Homes, Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged back surgery, compassion, father-in-law, Fritz handle, gift, goodwill, grandmother, in-laws, inlaws, kindness, legacy, love, memories, museum, Norman Rockwell, Ohio, peace lily, physical therapy, posterity, preserve, PT, purpose, recovery, Singer sewing machine, time, walker, walking cane | 4 Comments

Borrowing Time (A Visit to the ER)

Posted on May 4, 2013 by ivanbenson

We went to the ER last night with one of our adult daughters. If visits to the ER can be categorized I suppose this would go down as a good visit. She was complaining of sudden dizziness, nausea, chest and … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, Fathers, Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged borrowed time, cancer, celebrate, death, ER, friend, heart attack, Life, panic attacks, stress | 12 Comments

Time to Write (My Grandson Turned Two)

Posted on April 19, 2013 by ivanbenson

I have no idea what to write about today, but . . . I want to write. I must have something inside me that wants to come out and make itself known. Maybe I am full term with an idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging Parents, Family History, Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged ad infinitum, adoption, apples, birth mother, birthday, chain of events, chartable, decisions, divine wisdom, fortitude, gift, giving birth, grandson, life-changing, marketing, Mickey Mouse, monumental, Papa, pectin, ramifications, sotto voce, Thomas the Tank, time, toys, two years old, writing | 12 Comments

Unfolding a Life Story

Posted on April 11, 2013 by ivanbenson

I was raised in the movie generation. And as a result, I prefer lifetimes that last about two hours, or possibly three, if they are really good. Four is too much . . . even for a classic like Gone … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged action packed, Ben Hur, Big Mac, boring, cancer, culmination, drama, Exodus, fast food, Gone With the Wind, Macbook Pro, movie, movie director, reruns, scintillating, sound bite, time | 8 Comments

George Harrison (April 1968)

Posted on April 4, 2013 by ivanbenson

My envelope from Beatle, George Harrison, April 1968. There was nothing particularly remarkable about that Saturday in April, forty-five years ago. Tucson was as it always is in the spring – absolutely gorgeous. And the work at the Villa Venice … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged 1968, April, Atlanta History Center, auction, celebrity, chattanooga, Christies, Cleveland, England, Fed Ex, George Harrison, India, John Charles Thomas, John Lennon, Lady Madonna, London, magical, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, memories, Metropolitan Opera, Ohio, Paul McCartney, remarkable, Rishikesh Himalayas, Robert Merrill, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Something, Tennessee, The Beatles, Tucson, Villa Venice Apartments | 11 Comments

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