Indeed this day, we are glad. Shall we count the reasons why? No, I’m afraid it’s too hot and we would be here too long. Would you simply indulge me in a few short memories I’ve heard over the last few days as we’ve reflected on the life of Ben Bowden.
When we begin to make that characterization we have to reflect a number of outstanding qualities, a few quirky traits, perhaps a turn of the phrase or two, and one icy refreshing beverage. No, it is no secret that Grandad made the best margaritas found this side of…some landmark where they make really really good margaritas. That’s a silly thing to remember about someone at a time such as this, or maybe it isn’t. Is it any surprise that his margaritas where the best around? Isn’t this the man who worked tirelessly, I’m told often manicuring the yard during his lunch break home from the office wearing his slacks, neck tie and physician’s coat? Weekends and days off were spent caring for a farm or for his lake house with equal determination. He knew what he wanted and how he wanted it and by the sweat of his own brow, he made it happen. Is there any wonder his margaritas were the best?
You know there’s something more though. We don’t sit and have drinks in solitude. Margaritas are about friendship, fun, togetherness. We might think of gathering around a piano late at night overlooking the boat dock at Cedar Creek or on the landing at Christmas time all requesting song titles. Show tunes, hymns, he knew them all as long they were older than me and then some. Even more likely we might think about those encounters that most of us with the Bowden name have had. People hear the name and say, “Are you related to Dr. Bowden in Dallas. He was a wonderful doctor, they don’t care for you anymore the way he used to.” My wife and I have heard reports from as far away as Waco, that for one of our friends in her childhood days, somehow my grandfather made the prospect of getting a shot in the backside somehow tolerable. If it wasn’t his bedside manner, it was his ability to teach someone to water ski. Is there anyone here who didn’t learn to water ski from my granddad? There may be a few, but that’s only because he didn’t have the chance to get you in the water. I can be certain of that fact because, if he had gotten you in the water and you hadn’t gotten up on those skis you would still be floating around out there in the lake. Those were the rules, you will ski – period! If I’m not being asked about Dr. Bowden the physician I’m being asked about Dr. Bowden the water ski coach who has now gotten over half of the population of the continental US up on those little skis tied together at the front. If you do or ever have carried the name Bowden, you’ve had more of these experiences than you can remember. Reflecting on show tunes, bedside manner and waterskiing makes me wonder about that quality in Grandad’s margaritas, do you suppose that while Ben loved them, he must have loved the friendships; the commradery that came along even more?
Take a lot of hard work, an inspiring amount of dedication and a heartful of love for time spent with family and friends, blend them all up and pour them in a glass with a little salt around the rim and you’ve got my grandfather, Ben Bowden. Today we commit him back with these words:
“Forasmuch as it has pleased Almighty God in great mercy
to receive the life of our beloved Ben Wanslee Bowden,
we hereby commit his body to the grave,
earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust,
in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life
through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord,
says the Spirit,
That they may rest from their labors
And their works follow them.’”
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