As a teenager in grade 10 I saw a 35 mm SLR sitting in my grandparents basement. I had always loved taking photographs and my hobby was already turning into a private obsession. I asked for the camera and was repeatedly denied. In my graduating year, it was presented to me as a gift from my parents. That Canon F1 became my pride and joy.

On Thursday we had a freak spring snowstorm that challenges the western prairies from time to time. But Friday morning dawned gloriously bright and sunny as I journeyed the 2 hours to my grandparents. The purpose was to have a vehicle inspection done on the RV that had been left on their property over the winter. I didn't know they had gone on holidays and snapped the snow covered scenery in their yard.

The inspection took all day long and I had been wanting to photograph the horses just down the road from my grandparents property for years. I snapped some satisfying shots during the long golden hour of sunset.

Later as I drove the two hours home, I recieved the fateful call that Grandpa had been in an accident and was in critical condition. It took less than half an hour before he died. It was painfully shocking.  My heart aches to write this.

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It dawned on me this morning what a hand my grandfather had in developing my love of photography. My grandfather must have had good reason to hold on to the Canon even though I never saw it used.  I think about how determined I became because it had been withheld and I have to smile. Those two years of longing played an important part in my photographic development. I was driven to take good pictures even with my limited equipment to prove that I deserved a better camera. I learned a little about persistence.

Today I sit in wonder that the very day my granfather would die, that I found myself on his front doorstep.  That some divine guidance made me stop and take those photos that I had always wanted to take.  All the photographs in this tabblo were taken mere hours before my grandfather passed away. Was it a coincidence that the night before I awoke crying knowing that something painful was about to happen? It all feels so surreal.  There is so much left unknown in this universe.