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Ben Stein's Diary
Before Sunset
Our monthly Diarist’s print magazine installment.
(Page 3 of 3)
SUNDAY
Again, I stayed up way too late,
and went out for a bike ride.
Again, too damned hot. I gave up and went to the Safeway. I now feel as if I am bidding against the entire People’s Republic of China for everything I want to eat. The government says there is no inflation. Have they been shopping recently? Grocery prices are insane.
Back to our condo. I am having a great time reading a book about oil in Alaska, Crude Awakening by Amanda Coyne and Tony Hopfinger. It is beautifully written and meticulously researched. It’s scary how much sudden wealth changes things.
Then, time to meet up with our pals Tim and Penny Farmin for a ride across the lake to Ivano’s Del Lago at Hope, Idaho, for supper. It is still too hot. But the Cobalt did its job perfectly, and I parked it without crashing, so I am happy.
At the restaurant, I noticed that almost every diner had gray or white hair. They also all looked amazingly happy and cheerful. They were making conversation, listening to 1940s and 1930s classics played by a local trio, and looking at the stupefyingly glorious reddish orange sunset. These are men and women who have paid their dues—retired teachers, retired cops, retired small businessmen. Now, they are savoring the sunset in many ways.
My wife had rigatoni. I had some processed food. There I was—gray-haired with other gray-haired people. And the people looked so happy it brought tears to my old, processed food eyes. These people have known work and struggle—and now they know gratitude. That is something no government handout can give you. You cannot organize to make government give you self-respect.
I had a processed chocolate brownie for dessert, and then we got into the Cobalt and headed home in the twilight. What a glorious, magical evening with the fading evening light on the glassy water. Thank you, thank you, thank you, dear God. Thank you for the men and women whose suffering makes this possible. Thank you, God, for your servants who help this man and his family be so happy. And please tell my Pop I said hello.
About the Author
Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer living in Beverly Hills and Malibu. He writes “Ben Stein’s Diary” for every issue of The American Spectator.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (15) | Leave a comment
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Denver Todd| 10.31.11 @ 9:09AM
Southwest may not always have the cheapest fares, but they make up for that by having fabulous change policies and free baggage.
Humphrey Dumfries | 10.31.11 @ 9:36AM
...and certifiable flight crews... Not sure at what point singing stewardesses seemed like a good idea, but they freak me out.
Occam's Tool| 10.31.11 @ 11:10AM
Perhaps the taxes on fuel, which is all part of the higher tax regimen on everyone, especially greedy companies, is part of the reason your flight cost so much, Ben.
The purpose of taxes is to raise the money the government needs to provide appropriate services. NOTHING ELSE! Not to punish or hurt people.
sam vaughn| 10.31.11 @ 6:20PM
and what appropriate service would that be? fondling my genitals? having my luggage searched and items of interest confiscated? having my parents, in their 80's interogated because my Dad has a plate in his head courtesy Chosin, Korea?
emilio lizardo, PhD| 11.1.11 @ 9:21AM
wondering if anyone caught ol' Ben on Fox this AM (Tuesday 11/1) calling for "massive" tax increases across the board to alleviate the deficit. I suspect Ben is an economist to the same degree as he is an "actor". The ravages of his perpetual gourmand's tour and the stuffing himself with Chik-Fil-A is rotting his mind. Time to pull the plug. AMF,Ben
Peppermint Tea| 10.31.11 @ 12:31PM
Tender and touching diary, but I wonder, "Is Ben still alive or is he just a Halloween ghost viewing the world and imagining?"
Vern Crisler| 10.31.11 @ 3:02PM
SW tickets will cost more if you buy them at the airport. You've got to order them online or in advance to get better deals.
Ethnic people work at McD because the neighborhood is probably mostly ethnic, and that's who the franchisee wants to hire for their location.
Also my understanding is fast food restaurants hire mainly part time people, and therefore don't have to provide health insurance, etc.
Obviously the owners of the fast-food restaurants think part-time ethnics are a better hire than part-time high school whites, who will only work for a little while, then quit. Ethnics will stay on for a long time.
sam vaughn| 10.31.11 @ 6:11PM
Ben, thanks as always, the part about the veterans brought a tear to my eye. I stood in the airport in Charlotte recently, a small crowd had formed at the window. I peered out to see and saw a flag-draped casket descending from the rear of the plane. A small honor guard stood by and half a dozen people walked up. An officer said a few words and I saw small man, he just looked small, perhaps shrunken, grief will do that, but he straightened up as tall as he could go and saluted. The Delta ground crew stood by, some in tears. I don't know any of them but I sat down with tears in my own eyes. I goout of my way to greet soldiers in my travels, they deserve 1,000 smalls thanks from people like us.
Glen H| 10.31.11 @ 7:25PM
So what am I missing here? If you are going to schedule traffic work to inconvenience the least amount of people, wouldn't you schedule it ... after midnight?
Squiddly| 11.1.11 @ 7:48AM
The part you missed was this: "It was one of the worst traffic jams I have ever seen in Spokane--after midnight. I was really furious, especially because I did not see one single solitary workman."
Grouchy| 11.1.11 @ 1:49AM
So few comments....Ben usually get 100 s, but
maybe there's nothing controversial here..
Judy Wolfram| 11.2.11 @ 10:06AM
Thanks for your wonderful insights,Ben. I was wondering if you had any or could steer me towards commentary about Nixon invading Cambodia and whether it was a good idea. My son is writing a paper for his Honors American History Class and I wanted to give him a hand. Any books or articles we should check out?
William (Bill) Benton| 12.9.11 @ 6:50PM
Ben: I'm 80 years young & remember my stint in the Korea "police action." My son is a mechanic with south west working out of Phoenix. He's made it possible for his Mother & me to fly all over their system. I used to travel a lot on a ton of airlines when I toured my one-man show, Clarence Darrow, by David Rintells. (He wrote it when Henry Fonda commissioned it. Great writing, made me look good.) The point is, I'm not being just prejudice when I say SW beat 'em all. Enjoy your writing a lot, don't always agree with you, but like your stuff just the same. Bill Benton, Fort Collins, CO (a real GREAT place to live.)