The Gift

Recently, I was allowed to set up shop with my books and photographs at a craft sale in Sacred Heart Cultural Center. It was just before the holidays and would be a great opportunity for me to meet people, network and hopefully make a few sales.

On this particular day, I was fortunate to be sitting with a dear friend of mine. She and I talked almost continuously and the hours seemed to fly by. People would come up to me and flip through my book, I’d exude my passion for film photography and then, they’d be gone. But, when an older woman and her daughter approached my table, I knew there was something more. The older woman was frail and even though she was fine, walking on her own, it was best to have her daughter nearby. Immediately, I saw something in her eyes. They were glowing. And honestly, I had no idea why. But, as I spoke about the process of taking photographs I could tell she was entranced. When I finished, she came closer and I shook her hand. But, she held on. She was smiling and I could feel the warmth of her soul as our hands connected and her eyes gazed into mine. She told me that her late husband had been a photographer many, many years ago. He loved this craft and to hear me talk about it, about photography, made her feel wonderful. It made her think of him.

“I want to give you something. I want to give you his camera. Would you take it?” She said with her grasp on my hand becoming a little firmer.

I said, “Of course, I’d be honored,” and the two left.

Honestly, I didn’t know if I’d ever see them again. Her gesture was so kind and made me feel so happy, but what are the chances?

A few months later, I had a show with my work at CANDL Fine Art in downtown Augusta. It was a cold and windy night. I was worried that anyone would show due to the frigid temperatures, early darkness and difficult if not impossible parking on a First Friday. Yet, people came. So many friends came to support me and the craft that I consider my future. We laughed, I talked about the work hanging on the walls and then as I stumbled through the people attending, in the middle of the room, was the older woman and her daughter. She was smiling again and as I approached, she handed me a rectangular, and worn, old camera. It was her husband’s old Kodak, probably dating from the early 1900s.

When you look at a camera like this, you notice the bellow has cracks, the lens looks fogged and the leather exterior is worn. Yet, to me, this is a very valuable object. I think of all the smiles the lens on this camera has seen over the past one-hundred years. How many seasons of winter snows, afternoon picnics, weddings, holidays, and simply candid photographs has this camera been part of? If it could speak, what stories it would tell. And then, she gave me the kindest gift a human can give another. She said, "Giving you this camera brings me more joy than you have in receiving it." I was speechless.

So, a few days later I went online and watched as many YouTube videos as I could about this camera. I learned how to load the film, focus and fire the shutter and eventually took it out for a test drive. My first images were not very good. I still have to master the focus on this old gem. But, even though I’ll use it sparingly, it will be part of my collection till I am no more. It was a special gift. The woman who gave it to me, an angel that I'll probably never see again. But, I will always remember her.