Cindy Behnke: Hi Ken! Tell our Salem readers a little about yourself.
Ken: Hi Cindy! I was born on October 23, 1954. Yep, yep last year was my 70^th birthday! I moved to Salem straight from my parents’ house in 1982. I lived in Salem South home [Salem’s first community home next to our main campus] and I would go over to the main campus on the weekends to hang out in the activity center with Bobby, Karen, Theron and Regan. I really enjoy all the friendships. And I’ve had so many at Salem. Just this last week we had the church service to say goodbye to my friend Bobby (Bob Kooi). Pastor Don from CrossPoint came out and did the service at the graveside.

CB: What a blessing to have been at Salem for so long. And with such good memories! How did you end up at Walnut Home?
Ken: After South Home, I moved into the Palm Place home as one of the first residents. I don’t remember what year that was. Then I moved to Walnut Home to Flora, Sally and others. I’ve known Sally and Flora for 41 years now, too, so it was special being with them now since knowing them from main campus too.  
CB: And here you are still housemates with Sally! How cool is that? What are some fun memories you have in this home? Ken: Oh, Walnut Home is the party house!! Yep, even this Sunday, Palm Place is coming over for Super Bowl. And we have been on a lot of fun trips. My favorites have been to Santa Barbara, Grand Canyon, and what’s that one starts with an S by the wineries. Oh, Solvang! And Catalina Island! As it turns out, there were four other young men at Benson home that Marc would spend then next 30 years living with. After Benson home was sold, the guys moved to Palm Place home where they had so many shared experiences.

CB: Don’t forget Kenny Chesney!
Ken: Oh, yes, we saw you there! And our summer camps. We used to go to Laurel Pines Camp every summer. Then it became too hard to walk around for some of us older residents, so we started going to Camp Oakes in Big Bear. That was really fun, too. Now we do a week-long camp here with different activities and I’m really hoping this summer we get to go to Big Bear for a day!  
CB: That would be fun. Having a week off work for vacation is always a nice time. Could you tell us about the different jobs you’ve done?
Ken: After high school, I started at PVW (a day program for people with disabilities – now Anthesis). Then the Kmart in Rancho, but that one closed, and I worked at the Montclair one. I liked pricing the merchandise at Kmart.  
CB: That’s so cool! How long were you at Kmart?
Ken: I think around 10 years then back to PVW. It was a good workshop.  
CB: What were some favorite highlights at PVW?
Ken: We folded Domino’s pizza boxes, packaged sponges, IVY soap, perfumes. I really liked putting the sponges together, that was probably my favorite. And oh, I was janitor for a while at PVW and did janitorial work. I remember when our CEO came and picked me up at work because my very good friend, John Hancock, was not doing good at the hospital. So, Dan picked me up to go to the hospital to see John and be there when he passed away. We had been together since the beginning at Salem. It was hard but I’m so glad I got to be there with him.
CB: Oh Ken! I’m so thankful Salem knew how close you were and picked you up to say goodbye. Salem is so special, huh? But you don’t spend the weekday hours at Walnut Home, tell our readers about RASS.  
Ken: I get picked up to go to RASS program (Round About Senior Services) at about 9 am and leave about 1:45 in the afternoon. Case is there too, and my housemate Lenwood. We do different outings. Because of the gas problem, we can only go 20 miles now except maybe once a month. We used to go to Knotts, Reagan Library, and other places. Now we mostly get to just socialize and go to the library, Walmart, Target, Ontario Mills and movies during the summer. And Sam’s Club; that’s where I see you! It’s fun to go out to eat and be there with my good friend and housemate, Lenwood.  CB: Yes. I always love seeing you at Sam’s Club! Why don’t we tell everyone about the trips you have been on with the group New Directions?
Ken: New Directions is great. I get to meet new people from all over the place. Daniel and I are going to a Dodger game with them this coming year. I’ve gotten to go with New Directions to Hawaii two times, Texas to see San Antonio and a dude ranch then back to San Antonio to see the Riverwalk and Alamo. I’ve been to Orlando twice. Oh, and Sally, Cheryl, Robert I went with them to San Franciso and saw a ball game.  
‍CB: You are quite the traveler Ken! So many great places where you have gotten to see so much. What daily activities do you like to do?
Ken: I love my housemates and my staff. They are all great. I really enjoy getting together with all my friends that live at the different Salem homes. Cheryl and I have been boyfriend and girlfriend for many years. She’s been too busy to call lately but I still have lots of other friends. And at Wester Home, Debbie and Nicole and Robert still call and want to hang out. Oh, and I like baseball!  
CB: Dodgers or Angels?
Ken: Dodgers FAN! I don’t know where they are getting all this money from, just got a new Japanese player! [we shared a few chuckles...] In fact, look Cindy, I just picked out my new hearing aids- Dodger blue!  

CB: So awesome! And what do you love about Salem?
Ken: Everything. I like everybody. I’m an outgoing person. I have so many friends. Especially at Salem. Like when I was living with my family, there was only me and my two brothers with our parents. Now I have Christian brothers and sisters all with me all the time. Even if my family has passed away, I still have my family right here at Salem. We used to have Disneyland passes before it got too expensive. Tim and Nicole would take me and Daniel, and they’d always hang with me. And I love Sundays and getting to worship at CrossPoint. The pastors always come up to us and talk to us. I love Pastor Don, Pastor Bob and Tim Vande Griende, he is my good friend, too.  
‍CB: You ARE so loved Ken. I remember your parents, Ken. Such lovely people and raised such a wonderful man in you. And what about your brothers, do you still see them?
Ken: Oh yes. I have one who lives in Auburn and one in Vegas. My niece’s family just moved to San Diego, and I might take the train to go see them!  CB: That would be so cool. So, Ken, what are some of your future goals in your 70s? Ken: I want to go to Big Bear to spend the night, maybe for our camp this year. Even if it’s just one night. And our Walnut Home wants to go Catalina again! I also miss when all the Salem homes would go to the Quakes night. We would all sit together and watch a game. I also loved the 5K walkathon. That was so fun. And more outings with my friends at Wester and De Hoog Home. We went over to De Hoog Home for Case’s birthday and had pizza and that was so fun. I want to do more with them!  
‍CB: That all sounds like great goals for you Mr. Social and Traveling Ken! Any closing thoughts for our readers, Ken?
Ken: I’ve been with Salem for 42 years. I was a bit homesick when I first started. But I knew it would get easier. And then I started to get closer and closer to residents. The staff are so cool here. They take such good care of us! I don’t know what I would do if the state tried to shut Salem down. And 3-Way Thrift Store, they really help us out too. Everyone is kind to make sure Salem gets to be here.  
‍CB: And there you have it, folks. Ken says it perfectly. He really is our very own Historian of Salem!