Tucumán memories

For those who are happy not to move on too far or too fast where Ben’s concerned I thought I would translate some of the memories written on the ‘I remember’ part of the blog. These ones are written in Spanish and refer to Ben’s time in Argentina where he lived for 12 years from age 9.

When I read through the memories they are often about Ben’s liveliness and infectious enthusiasm—a kind of ‘can do’ attitude to everything which generated energy and fun seemingly wherever he went.

  

Julieta says:

I remember Ben, recently arrived in Tucumán [1994] and new at our school. He sat next to me on his first day—that was fourth grade. We had to write a story and his main character was a cat. Yes, he really liked cats and I remember he also liked maths. I remember his smile and that he was smart and happy and friendly to everyone.  

Silvina says:

When I try to remember stories I remember so many of Ben—being at camps together and swimming; he was a good swimmer. I remember once a group of us went to a Christmas concert and there was a storm; it was pouring and it was still raining at the end of the concert. We had to walk to the centre of Tucumán and so all of us were trying to keep ourselves dry with towels and things. Ben was funny and didn’t try and keep dry but just walked along getting soaking wet. Every so often he had to stop walking to wring out his shirt he was so wet. It was very funny and we all laughed a lot. There was always fun when Ben was around.  

Marc says:

I remember I visited the Mulherins in Tucuman with a friend in 2002. Upon our departure and when in the bus, a group of Mulherins and uni students we had become friends with came to wave good bye to us. We waved back.  But then Ben and Tim decided to enthusiastically wave with the "Mulherin middle". Nobody else saw what they were doing. Unfortunately for us, we could not reciprocate as the others in the group might have become offended or confused.

As I think about these memories I remember Ben’s enthusiasm and ‘can do’ as I attempted to learn to ride a bike in the backyard of Tucumán at the age of 36. Ben often sauntered out while I was teetering and tottering around keeping on at me not to give up. Later when I could ride well enough to venture out of the confines of the backyard, various times he would coach me up the steepest of hills, riding his bike slowly and patiently next to mine and not letting me stop repeating ‘you can do it…don’t give up…nearly there’ until finally I did reach the top of various hills which I had regarded as impossible.  

As Chris and I are want to say, ‘Ahhhh Ben.’