My mother died yesterday. I was fortunate enough to be able to speak with her on the phone a few hours before she passed away. The essence of what we spoke about is encapsulated in these reflections.
I'M HER SON
Lieutenant Recharda Benson WWII U.S. Army Nurse
That's why I love you
That's why I want you to be free
That's why I hate the sadists
That's why I'm a democrat
That's why I'm sympathetic with the poor
That's why I want kindness to replace hatred
That's why I don't care about riches
That's why I care about animals' welfare
That's why I go for the underdog
That's why I love the vivacity wild things exhibit
In short
My mom's the reason I care
In short
she's the reason I'm focussed on elan
not tied down to property and status
She's the reason
I've declared war on cruelty
ever since I was born
And why I think
It's nobody's business but my own
if I ride tear-filled waves of grief today
Recharda with her sisters and a friend late 1930s
My mom and I Christmas, 1949
My dad and I in the same place, 1949
Me, my mom, Bruce and Grandma Benson late 50s San Diego train station
My step-dad, Bruce, mom and me early 70s East Lansing
On my last visit to the USA in 2009
RECHARDA BENSON
April 1, 1919-August 24, 2013
