I'm not exactly sure where to start with this. I am positive that I do want to write this, but I'm at a loss as to where to begin. What words can possibly pay due respect for the man that Ben was? I feel as if anything that I write will significantly underrate the great person that he was, however I'm going to try, nonetheless.

I've not been a member on this website for very long. I unfrequently visited in the past and I officially signed up just a few weeks ago so I could finally become a part of this community. Ben was certainly one of the most active forces that made this place was wonderful to visit, and that was easy to see from the first day that I was here. For someone who only read a handful of his posts, knew absolutely nothing about his personal life, and had never met Ben in person, I've been very confused as to why I'm so deeply affected by this tragedy. I've actually noticed other posts by other users noting the exact same sentiment: Why have many of us been so deeply influenced by this man that we didn't even know?

This was my train of thought all last night before I eventually fell asleep, and I came to the conclusion that Ben has been the epitomé of what everyone wants to aspire to. This may seem a bit odd coming from someone who just said he knew virtually nothing about Ben, but it wasn't hard to tell from just reading his posts that he was someone to be looked up to. Ben was wise well beyond his years and really did have the kind of personality that many of us would love to have. He was calm when people insulted him and called him a liar. I never once saw him say anything negative towards aynone, and I really do respect the person he was. I'm sure everyone here feels the exact same way.

He is not only someone to be revered so highly and looked up to, but I speak honestly when I say that I'm sure everyone here honestly aspires to be the person he was. It's incredibly rare for someone to touch as many people as he did, especially just through a medium as ambigious as the Internet. He certainly had a very special gift that he gave to all of us. I'm certainly never going to forget him.

Charlotte,

I feel so arrogant. I can't possibly even begin to understand what you are going through right now. You obviously knew him better than anyone else, and so you certainly understand why there is such a ridiculously large outpouring of support for him. I'm sure it was more than a blessing for you to be so close with him throughout his life, and I'm sure it makes it just that much harder with him having been as great of a guy as we all knew he was. They say that you never know what you've got 'til it's gone, but I'm not so sure that's the case with Ben. From what I have read by others that knew him personally, it seems like he was exactly the kind of guy that left a lasting impression after meeting him. I don't believe he was the type of guy that anyone would underestimate or degrade in any way.

I am so sorry for your loss. No one will understand as you do what this is like, and I wish there was something I could do. I honestly wish right now that I could make all of this as if it had never happened, but I can't ... so all I can offer you is my sincerest condolonces. Ben was an amazing man and I feel privileged just to have been a member of the same community that he was so dedicated to and loved so much.


Parker,

By the time you're old enough to read this, I'll be nearing the age that your father was. I'm a young man now and I still have my entire life ahead of me, and right now all I can think is that my primary goal is to just be half the man that your father was. I find it so unfair that you're going to grow up without him around. I find it so unfair that I was able to interact with him just in the slightest way while he was alive, and you will never have such a privilege.

All I want you to know is that your father was an amazing man. Certainly you'll grow up knowing this, but just know that not only your fathers family and friends thought this. Literally every person that came into contact with Ben Keaton was pretty much enamored by him. He was a great man and will never be forgotten, and I want you to know that he made more of a mark in his short life than nearly any other person on the planet ever will. I'm sure your Mom will tell you this in much greater detail than I'll ever be able to, but I really want you to understand how wonderful we all thought he was.

I am so sorry for you. I know how much he cared about you ... I'm sure everyone did. He posted pictures of you a number of times and I know that he would have given the world for you. I've actually been reading through the forums and every time I come across a picture of you, I start to tear up - it's really not fair that you will have to grow up without a father, especially a father so great. Perhaps that isn't the most positive of things to say - I almost want to say that he was horrible just so maybe you won't miss him so much, but I just can't do that. No one can. He is to be remembered fondly and I know he will be.

Please don't be angry or bitter with him. He died doing something that he loved and that many people will never understand. Everyone here shares the same enthusiasm for automobiles and cars that Ben did, and it's certainly a unique passion that many people simply won't understand. Why take such risks? Why endanger yourself like he did? It's a part of the life he led and I'm sure he probably wouldn't have had it any other way ... it's a passion that simply can't be contained and is seldom understood. I hope you will not fault for him for anything he did in his life. He made mistakes, we all do - he was indeed very human, but he was one of the best kinds of human that you can come by.

I'm conversing with my friend Bijan right now (also a member here) and we really can't stop talking about your father. He keeps noting that he is just completely devastated by all of this, and I am continuing to become more and more amazed at the impact that Ben had on so many people, near and far. It truly is amazing.

I wish there were more I could do. If I were in any sort of position to make it to his funeral, it would be the first thing on my list of priorities right now. I am seriously just so, so, so sorry. I want to fix all of this ... I really, really do.



Love,
Michael

 

Note: If anyone finds anything I wrote to be offensive or inappropriate, please tell me. I am actually moving right now and I have to get on a plane in twelve hours, and this tragedy is taking quite a toll on me. I haven't the energy to accurately proof it. As I wrote that, I thought to myself that many of the things were far too inappropriate or redudant. I don't take any offense to someone pointing out what I should modify ... I tried to be both honest and delicate, and sometimes I don't get such a great balance.

Thank you.

 

Mike T:

Thank you for taking the time to write this. I hope the family will appreciate your kind words. You have taken the feelings I have had regarding this tragedy and brought some clarity to them. Ben was a great guy. The moment I met him I knew that there was something special about him. I have not known him for long but he has given me someting to aspire to in life.

RIP Ben

 

Mike, I am much in the same boat. After lurking for while it's Ben's posts that made me feel that his community was so warm and welcoming.

I just regret not getting to know him at all.

RIP

 

Mike, well put... I was never good at putting words to emotions and you hit the nail on the head. Ben always acted like your good friend no matter who you were, and I think we all still thought of him as a hero; I know I did.

I hope to one day be as humble and well-spoken as your father, Parker. It's funny how we never thought how connected we were to Ben until he was gone. Now it just confuses us to think of someone we haven't met had such an impact on us.

May you live a great life knowing that your father was an amazing father, a great friend, and a hero to all of us.

Godspeed.

-Bijan P.

 

Mike, well said.

 

Mike I live on the other side of the globe and feel sick in my stomach, I never met or spoke to Ben.
I just enjoyed watching his pics he posted, read his advice, funny comments, and just admired the guy for being that young and at that age being such a succesful and wise man.


Rest in peace

Felix

 

Same here, I too live on the other side of the globe and although I never met or spoke to Ben, but just from reading his posts I already liked him. He must have been such a wonderful, smart, gentle, warm person, and especially someone with good taste and a good sense of humor. So even though I barely knew him it feels in some way almost like a personal loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to Ben, his wife Charlotte and his daughter Parker.


May you ride for ever in peace Ben.

Sebastian

 

thanks mike for wrtting this.

i tried to write something similar but must have deleted it many times as i couldn't exactly put it right.

Ben's influence on me cannot be described by words. however, his passing is felt in my heart daily. life and death is something i deal with everyday as an oncologist. but this tragedy has affected me in a whole different way. somehow, i still don't understand since Ben and I have never met.

johnny