PREFACE:  We moved to Lebanon, Missouri in April of 2021'. Since then we've been familiarizing ourselves with the town and it's people. One day while doing research on one of Lebanon's Library computers I felt someone tugging on the brim of my hat. I swung around to find a teenage boy with a mischievous grin on his face staring back at me. Before I could say anything he said: "I see your hat! I like your hat! I WANT  your hat!"

I was taken aback and tried to figure out whether this kid was messing with me, serious, or what? But before I could ascertain his true intentions, he apologized for disturbing me and introduced himself. "Hi! My name is Benjamin!". I could tell from his demeanor he was just being a normal, slightly rambunctious teenager. My initial apprehensions melted away. For some reason Benjamin reminded me of a "teenaged" Jack Black.  All    of that Hollywood actor's irrepressible "pent-up energy" but with an endearing courtesy and thoughtfulness      I couldn't imagine coming from the real  Jack Black.

"It's just that I really like your hat. My grand dad has one just like it!", said Benjamin explaining his fascination with my ( "Indiana Jone's" style ) hat.  I remember saying: "Why thank you Benjamin, that comment really makes me feel very young. Thank you!". I don't think he picked up on the irony but no matter. Benjamin then dived into a wide variety of subjects ranging from his school, to the physical condition he has which prevents him from feeling pain, i.e: heat, cold, etc. ( -dangerous when he's using a stove ), to his grandmother whom  he adores -as he does ALL old people ( "the older the better" ).

So, at this point I'm starting to feel really OLD. Did Benjamin single me out because I fall into his "older the better" classification I pondered?  Then Benjamin tells me a story about an elderly woman who "beat the tar"    out of a thief ( -who barged his way into her home after passing himself off as a meter reader ). We both laugh at the thought of this frail old lady beating this hapless thug over the head with a table until the thief begs for mercy ( -as the woman's security system camera captures the event for posterity ). An actual story by the way. Then Benjamin asks if I'd like to see a few of his animations. 

I said "sure, why not?" thinking it's probably a cute little app on his phone "that all the kids have" that allows him to make primitive "stick figures" move herkily-and-jerkily across his phone screen. Well I was WRONG! Benjamin's animations were quite impressive. But equally impressive was his music. You see, Benjamin also composes music -especially film score music. He's actually sent examples of his work to movie studios like  Disney. Unfortunately, in the case of Disney -production on that particular movie halted -so we'll never      know whether Benjamin's music would've been used. 

As Benjamin showed me other examples of his work I began to wonder how this fifteen year old  could have accomplished such animations and music by himself?  I called over my sister, who was also at the library, to take a look at some of Benjamin's stuff.  She was impressed.  And she's not  one to be easily impressed!        No doubt about it, Benjamin's a genuinely talented kid! 

In one of the film score examples he showed me, Benjamin had re-done a song from the soundtrack of Disney's "Tron Legacy" movie.  And guess what?  I actually thought Benjamin's "re-done" version sounded BETTER than the movie's original version ( -by French electronic group "Daft Punk" ). Benjamin's version was lusher, fuller sounding and more cinematic than "Daft Punk's" ( -which sounded lackluster and thread bare    by comparison ).  All I could say was -WOW! 

During the course of showing me his animations and music, Benjamin told me was invited to participate in some online projects. Benjamin supplied these creators with his music based upon the descriptions of what they needed. Benjamin said he enjoyed doing the work despite the projects not paying anything.  And he was always meticulous in properly crediting OTHERS for the work they did  in these projects -never seeking credit that wasn't due him. That impressed me. Would the average fifteen year old have done that?  I doubt it.

As I was standing there watching Benjamin's animations and listening to his music scores, I decided to come  up a challenge. And a pretty unreasonable one at that! WHY?  Because I simply HAD to know if what I was seeing and hearing was really created  by this fifteen year old! If Benjamin passed he was "legit" and I'd      stop doubting what I was seeing and hearing.  

So, I finally said: "Benjamin, I'm having some trouble believing YOU did all of this stuff yourself, so I'm going    to give you a challenge. Are you up for it?". Looking up from his phone's screen he seemed to immediately      "get it". And why not? I'm pretty sure by now Benjamin has gotten used to people doubting his skills.                 So, my challenge was probably nothing new for him. Here was my challenge:  

After talking with Benjamin's mom for a while, we left to attend to some errands. Later that night it dawned    on me that I'd missed a "golden opportunity" to set-up an interview with the youngest and quite possibly,      the most interesting "tech nerd" I've come across in a long time. Here I am, the editor of a webzine called        "Creative Tech Nerds" and I'd just let a great interview slip through my fingers. Aaaaarrrrgghhhh! 

So, a few days later I asked Brian - one of Lebanon Library's "finest" -to forward a business card onto Benjamin or his parents ( -should they stop into the library sometime ). The card had a short note asking Benjamin if he'd care to do an interview for the "zine" along with details on how he could contact me. A few days later, Brian informed me that he'd seen Benjamin's parents and had passed along my card. Thank you Brian! 

A few days following that, I received a call from Benjamin -who said he'd like to do the interview -so we proceeded to set-up a day and a time. You can read that interview by clicking on the link ( below ).  

                                                "PART 2" -BENJAMIN'S  INTERVIEW

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