Ben. H. English ~ American Author ~ Texas ~ Alpine

Good Morning!

For those who have been asking, the manuscript for my fifth book, ‘Black And White: Tales of the Texas Highway Patrol,’ has been completed.

Select chapters were sent out to those who were intimately involved, or who lost loved ones in the incidents described. They, along with my cadre of advance readers, have been so supportive and glowing in their descriptions of what they found in those pages.

So much so, as to be emotional.

I understand, as writing ‘Black And White’ has been one of the harder things I have done in a while. Events once put behind now loomed as challenges ahead, and making certain that justice was done in the telling has weighed heavily upon me.

It has been said that the first duty is to remember. But on occasion, that can be a hard thing indeed.

But amidst the human tragedy and pain for noble lives taken far too soon were other memories, those which always seem to bring a smile or lift to the heart. Among these were photos from many a year ago, including the one attached to this post.

That is my older son Benjamin Levi as a baby, playing ‘speed cop’ in the front seat of my old Dodge Diplomat.

Life for children with a father for a peace officer can be a humorous one, and this photograph is prima facie evidence of that. ‘Speed Cop,’ ‘Police Story,’ and ‘Texas Ranger’ were games of habit played around our home. My boys grew up with a different perspective on life than most others.

But I do not think it hurt them much. Levi was an Eagle Scout, Class Valedictorian, Honors Grad at Annapolis, flew Harriers for the Marine Corps and now is a projects manager for Sandia Labs. He married very well and has a red haired, grey eyed daughter who is bound to make her daddy pay for his raising.

And Levi still likes to play with patrol cars. His most recent project is a retired Chevrolet Holden Caprice detective unit, one of the fastest of its type ever built.

The he hung a supercharger on this monster for good measure. Hold my DPS issued straw hat, Mad Max, and I’ll show you something.

Like they say the more things change, the more they remain the same.

And as always, please feel free to share.

God bless to all,
Ben

Ben H. English
Alpine, Texas
USMC: 1976-1983
THP: 1986-2008

Author of ‘Yonderings’ (TCU Press)
‘Destiny’s Way’ (Creative Texts Publishers)
‘Out There: Essays on the Lower Big Bend’ (Creative Texts Publishers)
‘The Uvalde Raider’ (Creative Texts Publishers)

Facebook: Ben H. English
Webpage: benhenglish.com

‘Graying but still game.’