BennyEast.Com/Blog The official blog of Kenny West

Benjamin East

Last night I went downtown to get dinner and have a drink with my sister.  She's in town for this Rock 'n' Roll run.

http://www.runrocknroll.com/

Although, she's not actually running.  She has run this in the past, but she's in town because she has a booth at the convention center.  She's selling her Lularoe gear.  So, she's there with all her apparel.

Personally, I'm actually not keen on the Lularoe operation... I don't have an issue with the clothing... It's more the business model that I'm not big on.  My investor background says to me, stay clear.  But she likes it, and she's having run, which is fine.  Personally?  If Lula were a publicly traded company, I wouldn't invest.  Lululemon on the other hand?  I'd be inclined to pick up a few shares if they paid a dividend.  No dividend there, so I'm not a shareholder, but I like the Lululemon business model a lot better than the Lularoe one.  I'm just not completely convinced about the longer term sustainability of this company.

Anyways...

So, we went out and had dinner.  It was nice, we went to a place called Field House.  After that we went back to her hotel and got a drink at the hotel bar.  I left and went back to my car and she went to bed.

On my way back to my car, which I had parked in the Independence Hall Parking garage... I stopped to visit the one and only Mr. Benjamin Franklin.

This is the third time I've visited him this summer.  You know, it's weird.  The first time I stumbled upon his grave, which I'd NEVER been to in all my years here as a resident of this area, it was completely by accident.

I was attempting to locate the entrance to the Independence Hall Parking garage when I found his grave site.  This was... Back in late July?  Or early August?  I forget... It was the night I went out with my friend to Independence Beer Garden to try out Tinder Social (which was a bust).  We then left there and went bar hopping around Old City.  That was way more fun than waiting for someone to reply to us on Tinder.

Anyways...

So, there I am chatting with the ghost of Philadelphia's past.  Mr. Franklin and I have a grand conversation going.  Or maybe I was just kind standing there reading his bio posted next to the grave... But in a way, it felt like he was telling me about himself.  I could just imagine his grandiose personality and larger than life presence telling me all about himself.

Mr. Benjamin Franklin.

Anyways... So last night was the 3rd time.  Each time, I actually get tingles down my spine!  It's strange.  I feel like he had such a zest for life that even in death his soul still lingers around his grave site giving that life zest away to anyone who passes near.

Or maybe he wishes he could hop bodies and jump back into the realm of the living... I feel like Ben is too moral of a person to body snatch though.  I mean, yes, I didn't know him personally... But I just feel like he would feel bad as soon as he snatched and would want to give your body back.

You know, if body snatching were an actual thing, and what not.

Well, so I'm there, just kind of lingering, and letting my imagination wonder.  Chillaxing with Franklin and his wife Deb.  And suddenly I thought the words...

Benjamin of the East.

I mean, he is a Benjamin... and he did live in the East coast!  He was born in Boston, and died in Philadelphia.  It even says so, right there on the little "about me" section next to his grave.

Benjamin of the East.

Benjamin East.

Benny East.

Hmmmm....

Well, that's kind of cool.  I've had this domain name for about 10 years now... Actually more.  I registered it in 2005 I believe.  I remember sitting with my laptop in The Common Place coffee house in my college town of Indiana, Pa registering it and creating the first 1.0 version of the Benny East website.

Speaking of which, I should probably refresh this site.  Maybe I'll do that at some point, perhaps over my next winter break that I get in December.

Benjamin East.

It's a funky thought for sure.  It's weird but it made me feel a bit warm and fuzzy inside.  Like Ben Franklin would approve of my website name.

The initial Benny East name came from my one friend Kate Heckman (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3021068/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1).  We used to record music together.  Her and my other friend Jayme.  They had a band and I would record them.  One night they dyed my hair and we went out shopping and they gave me a whole makeover... Cut my hair, dyed it... Dressed me in new clothes and even shoes.

When we were done... Kate said... Where's Kenny West?  You're like a new person... You're...

Benny East!

And it kind of became a thing.

Benjamin of the East.

Maybe I'll have to visit Mr. Franklin again.  So far it's been a thing that I do each time I park in the Independence Hall Parking spot, which by the way I'm convinced, is the best kept parking secret on the planet... 5 bucks on Friday and Saturday nights as long as you are in after 5pm and out before 3am... Can't beat it!

This isn't the first time I've made it a thing to stop somewhere when I go to a specific spot...

Back in 2010, I started a thing where I stop at the Washington Memorial Chapel and say a quick prayer for Miss Daylight.  That actually started on New Years Eve... in 2010/2011.  Technically it was 2011 when I stopped.  I remember I parked my car and walked over to the little statue where the lady is kneeling over... It's just to the left of the chapel if you are facing the chapel.  There's a small courtyard-ish area and a statue of a lady... She's kind of kneeling/leaning over.

 

 

 

Anyways... on January 1st... I stood there and said my first prayer thing.  I just kind of talked... To the wind... and the cold night air.  Hoping some wildebeest wouldn't jump out and devour me whole.  Then when I finished, I ran back to my car.

I've probably stopped at that spot at all hours of the day and night each time I pass by it in my car... And I just say a little prayer usually for Miss Daylight.  Sometimes I include other people.  I used to pray about my mom's health.  And this whole court case thing in Cali with my trust...

But mostly I'd just pray about Miss Daylight.

Anyways, so maybe my new "spot" will be chatting with Benjamin Franklin.

I wonder how Washington would feel knowing that I've been chatting with Franklin instead lately?  It's not like Washington and I were exclusive or anything.  And besides... Franklin and I are just friends anyways.  So, it's probably cool.