Good points all, Julietters.  I didn't know Ben so well.  For a brief period of time, like 6 years ago, we were conversational.  I'm not sure he'd remember me anymore.

Anyway, is your disappointment for yourself or the world?  I take it that it's a little bit of both, or in this case a whole lot of both.  And it might also be kinda hard to draw the line between empathic feelings of loss for the world and personal feelings of loss that come from a great talent and a truly nice dude no longer creating such rare and remarkable things. 

But hell, while raising a family is hardly uncommon, that doesn't mean that raising a family with love and hard work and doing it well is any less noble of an endeavor.  And it's probably not so much that a great, well-known and respected dude like Ben couldn't make a living with his art.  It possibly had more to do with a certain dearth of security/regularity/routine (of paychecks and perhaps other elements) that Ben could have lived with on his own, but that he did not want to impose on his family.  So maybe he made an admirable sacrifice.  It's not as if farming is a real, up-and-coming easy profession in which one can make easy money.  But it is honorable and it is structured.  And sometimes that's what a family needs. 

Being an artist is also honorable, but -and I'll admit I'm kinda taking this kinda far out there- it also sometimes requires a certain amount of mania, or submission of oneself to one's creative impulses and inspirations.  I'm not saying that was the case with Ben, but really, when you're on a roll, in the midst of a creative spurt, it's not easy and it's not good to have to stop before you're finished.  Sometimes you're going to find yourself working all night into the next day.  That, I know. 

And a 2, 3, 4 year old kid, whatever, isn't always going to understand that now is not a good time to need a hug or some attention -anything from a diaper change to help with her or his homework.  Artis interruptus: It ain't fair to your art.  Inspiration or whatever it is that "thing" is that you can almost touch, that you're bringing to earth, can be easily lost. 

Then again, it's not necessarily fair to one's family to place them second to your art -or ANY vocation.  Especially when some of them didn't have much of a choice about being brought into the picture. 

I'm not saying that's the case with Ben.  But I'm just providing some perspective, a perspective you know.  Besides, building a house can be way-creative.  And just because you're not making a living as an "Artist" doesn't mean you can't be creative in all sorts of ways throughout your day.  Maybe the banker down the block is a figurative font of creativity, but you wouldn't guess it because of her job.  I'm sure Ben gets little opportunities throughout the day to lend his special personality and vision to his projects.   

Just because it seems we're not presently benefiting from Ben Dale doesn't mean he's not using his art.  He's a father.  He's building a house.  He's taking care of his family. 

Maybe Ben's audience is just a whole lot smaller now, but maybe it's an audience that's just as -if not more- appreciative of his gifts.  Maybe he's using his gifts differently and maybe he's applying different gifts, but he's still Ben Dale.  (Ben Dale-Dad?)  And maybe Ben Dale's getting a lot more out of giving more of himself to fewer-but-more-significant people.   

I dunno.  You spoke to him, not me.  But you did say he's finding peace.  I say that's great.  Has he made sacrifices?  I'm sure.  But I think that's a significant part of bringing someone else into the world.  I think there's a lot of good stuff to be taken from him caring for his family, building a house and tending to goats, chickens, ducks, etc., and seeming happy.  Think of the lessons he's teaching or at least modeling for his kid(s) and imagine how cool it would be to have a dad who might be -in the original use of the term- bringing home the bacon and also be an artistic genius.  Sometimes you've gotta scale back your gifts from the masses to those who are truly important. 

A related-but-other point is that the things Ben has done over the years are still significant in shaping the current cool things that are developing in this town.  People who have never met him or heard of him are better off because of him.  I believe that and I think that's a wonderful thing, when someone can say that about you.     

As to the big babies in the NBA and elsewhere making all them bucks, that's another other subject.  Related, yep, but...  It's unfair and it sucks, but that's life.  You know the old adage about how unfair it is that teachers aren't held in higher esteem and paid more.  Rather than worry about what kind of a great deal the other guy is getting, I'm the type who just tries to figure out what I can do with what I can do... and what I've got and how I can do it according to my beliefs-ethics system.  Being resourceful, I think, is an interesting use of creativity, by the way.

And it sounds to me like Ben Dale is doing just great. 

Seeya, Juliette... Loveya...  You too, are an amazing person. 

Nice blog, I think about him everytime I pass by a piece of his art, so you know that it is often!  He seemed like such a troubled soul, truly carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.  I really miss seeing new pieces from him, his work is so beautiful.  I'm glad to here that he is alive & well & hope that someday he returns to his art, for his & all of our sake.