A Christmas Tribute
It's been a tough year for all of us, tougher for some of us than others. Some of us had huge losses, losses of income, jobs, losses of events looked forward to each year, and worst of all, losses of loved ones. While jobs and events can be replaced and rescheduled, the losses of our loved ones are irreparable and our loved ones are irreplaceable. This month my sister lost her husband. He had struggled with Lewey Body Dementia for several years, and my sister struggled right along side of him. It was very difficult for her to lose the life that they shared together and to slowly lose him, little by little, until his body just gave up, and he was gone. This Christmas she is alone, on the other side of the country. In this Covid world, there is not much I can do about that, but this is my tribute to my brother-in-law, Perry and my gift to my sister Jackie ... which I think is fitting, because Perry was a Nikon man too. I remember sitting next to him at Thanksgiving one year, when he had the camera that I really wanted, and trying to make a switcharoo, when he wasn't looking... a quick upgrade for me! Jackie said he had a tin eye... and never took a good photo. I've seen pictures of him with his camera around his neck, but I never actually saw him take a picture! I remember when he said he wanted to upgrade to a full frame camera, and I was amused, and wondered.... WHY?!! A few years ago, my sister asked me if I wanted to come and stay with Perry, so that she could go on a trip that she had planned, and not worry about leaving Perry alone. A trip to Oregon?! Yes, please! Perry told me to bring my lenses and leave my camera body home. When I got there, he had a brand new Nikon ready for me!( Looking back, I can only wonder what my sister was thinking asking me to come and stay with Perry. She told me that I would need to remind him to take his medicine, and help him find things that he misplaced. Yes, what was she thinking? I forgot to remind him to take his medicine, we went to a ballgame together and I took my jacket off and asked HIM to remind ME not to leave it there. Let's be serious... she left me meals to serve for dinner with notes on preparation that started with... Take the plastic lid off before putting into the oven... and I had to send texts to friends asking them what a broiler pan looked like, prompting several of my Flickr friends at the time to post photos of broiler pans on their photostreams. Yes, what was she thinking?)
I am thankful to have had that time to spend with Perry. We went to a ballgame, went hiking, and sat and ate several meals together that were not topped with melted plastic. He was a career Navy man, a Commander (thank you for your service, Perry) and he was brilliant and interesting and funny, and he took good care of my sister.... oh, and I was his favorite. He will be missed. And I forgave him for not stopping at the craft show that Jackie told him to take me to on the way to the airport when I was leaving Oregon. I forgave him for driving right by, without even a glance, because you know... we needed to get to the airport on time. (Don't make me tell you just how early we arrived at the airport!) Anyway, this is my tribute and my gift... and even though it didn't turn out exactly as I had planned (the star is actually lit with red, white and blue lights, but you can't tell)... I tried. An American flag and a star shining for you, CDR. Perry S. Patterson ... a little Nikon photography, that we both loved. Thank you for letting me be your favorite. Your memory will shine on. Merry Chirtmas Jackie. I hope that next year we will all be together.
Merry Christmas to all my friends... wishing you all peace.
A Christmas Tribute
It's been a tough year for all of us, tougher for some of us than others. Some of us had huge losses, losses of income, jobs, losses of events looked forward to each year, and worst of all, losses of loved ones. While jobs and events can be replaced and rescheduled, the losses of our loved ones are irreparable and our loved ones are irreplaceable. This month my sister lost her husband. He had struggled with Lewey Body Dementia for several years, and my sister struggled right along side of him. It was very difficult for her to lose the life that they shared together and to slowly lose him, little by little, until his body just gave up, and he was gone. This Christmas she is alone, on the other side of the country. In this Covid world, there is not much I can do about that, but this is my tribute to my brother-in-law, Perry and my gift to my sister Jackie ... which I think is fitting, because Perry was a Nikon man too. I remember sitting next to him at Thanksgiving one year, when he had the camera that I really wanted, and trying to make a switcharoo, when he wasn't looking... a quick upgrade for me! Jackie said he had a tin eye... and never took a good photo. I've seen pictures of him with his camera around his neck, but I never actually saw him take a picture! I remember when he said he wanted to upgrade to a full frame camera, and I was amused, and wondered.... WHY?!! A few years ago, my sister asked me if I wanted to come and stay with Perry, so that she could go on a trip that she had planned, and not worry about leaving Perry alone. A trip to Oregon?! Yes, please! Perry told me to bring my lenses and leave my camera body home. When I got there, he had a brand new Nikon ready for me!( Looking back, I can only wonder what my sister was thinking asking me to come and stay with Perry. She told me that I would need to remind him to take his medicine, and help him find things that he misplaced. Yes, what was she thinking? I forgot to remind him to take his medicine, we went to a ballgame together and I took my jacket off and asked HIM to remind ME not to leave it there. Let's be serious... she left me meals to serve for dinner with notes on preparation that started with... Take the plastic lid off before putting into the oven... and I had to send texts to friends asking them what a broiler pan looked like, prompting several of my Flickr friends at the time to post photos of broiler pans on their photostreams. Yes, what was she thinking?)
I am thankful to have had that time to spend with Perry. We went to a ballgame, went hiking, and sat and ate several meals together that were not topped with melted plastic. He was a career Navy man, a Commander (thank you for your service, Perry) and he was brilliant and interesting and funny, and he took good care of my sister.... oh, and I was his favorite. He will be missed. And I forgave him for not stopping at the craft show that Jackie told him to take me to on the way to the airport when I was leaving Oregon. I forgave him for driving right by, without even a glance, because you know... we needed to get to the airport on time. (Don't make me tell you just how early we arrived at the airport!) Anyway, this is my tribute and my gift... and even though it didn't turn out exactly as I had planned (the star is actually lit with red, white and blue lights, but you can't tell)... I tried. An American flag and a star shining for you, CDR. Perry S. Patterson ... a little Nikon photography, that we both loved. Thank you for letting me be your favorite. Your memory will shine on. Merry Chirtmas Jackie. I hope that next year we will all be together.
Merry Christmas to all my friends... wishing you all peace.