Warthog0 Loc: CG Florida

I was assigned to Ft Hood Texas for separation from the Army when I came home from SE Asia. I took a part time job at a Photo Studio/ Camera Store and was able to get acquainted with many cameras of the day, Exacta's, Miranda’s, Nikon's, Canon's, Voightlander;s, Alpha's, Leica’s, etc. An Army base gets a tremendous (in those days) amount of equipment in through the PX and out the Hock shop, and one gets to see a great deal of different types of "systems" and get to hear lots of stories. My favorite of course is my own recollection of one day at the shop, on an untypically slow Saturday.
One morning a sweet elderly woman came in with her camera and explained in the sweetest Cheshire grin you ever want to see, that her grandchildren had traveled from California to see Granny for her 70th birthday and spent the whole week with her. They had a great party and took a lot of pictures that she wanted now developed. She then dumped a shopping bag full of flashcubes on the counter and asked that they be developed. The owner of the store and I, in one synchronized solemn movement slowly glanced at each other. The two of us stood with our mouths open, letting flies in and out of our mouths trying to compose ourselves, while feeling a sadness welling up in us. Frozen and not knowing what to say to the expectant sweet set of robin’s egg blue set of eyes, the owner of the store being older and more composed than a 22 year old, looked at her and asked if she had the instruction manual for the camera. She took the box the camera came in and placed it on the counter and she said sweetly how easy the camera was to use, as she pointed to the box of flashcubes that she had brought in. The flashcube box advertisement read; “with these flashcubes you will be able to make beautiful family photographs”. We again in unison looked at each other. I took the opportunity to escape into the backroom, I had gone through many a difficult time the year before of much greater consequence, but this was definitely a heartbreaker.

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

oh man, I don't know if I would have been able to kept a giggle from escaping or crying for her.

Warthog0 Loc: CG Florida

Sad, all you can think of are your own elders. You just want to wrap your arms about them, sometimes, they are so inocent as they get that age, I thought then. Now I kind of wince when my daughter gives me a hugg and kind of pats me on the head. But it was just yesterday.....

Dria Loc: Ohio

Awww poor sweetie--
I bet a zillion people "now a days" take pics without a memory card and then are so sad.

DB Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

Don't worry Warthog, age is just a state of mind.... now if we can convince our bodies of that I'd be in great shape.... People are living alot longer these days so there is hope...My brother just turned 85 last week (living 10 years longer than any other family member so far)and just remind ur daughter that before she knows it her kids will be patting her on the head too ...

That poor grandma.. SO FAR, I have not made those silly mistakes but have come close... I now have to write lists YUCK !!!!!

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

I have mine set so it won't fire/click without the CF card. Learned the hard way. ;)

Warthog0 Loc: CG Florida

Joined this group feeling I would be comfortable here as a newbie to Digital(phone camera to date) and explore the direction I should go in if I am to keep up with photo technology, and not miss the Millennium Falcon as it does not make too many round trips. If not, I go back and restart my pottery and watercolor classes and start some serious practice on my old archery set, if I am to survive the winters. So far, I have not been disappointed and have had great fun commenting on general chatter, but nothing fundamentally or digitally profound. Everyone I have come across in all the sections I have visited has been very generous and has given everyone that has asked for help courteous and good advice without being on an ego trip. I have gotten some good advice from several people as well, as to where I should begin my journey, other than hitting the reset button. (Just kidding). I have been, for the most part an analog person all my life I guess due in part to my reliance on my hands and the need for touch smell etc. Maybe that is why my tastes in all that I have taken an interest been “mechanical or hands on” for lack of better words rather than electronic. I miss the ability to do a basic floor plan with pencil, pen and be able to control the density and dimension of the lines I put down, I guess to draw. I enjoy my music and yes, it is an out of control LP collection. I like Sailboats and sailplanes rather than power. Overall, I would describe myself as a well-rounded man from the Pleistocene era. Thank you all for your wonderful comments. Below, an early relative, I guess the similarity is quite apparent with my avatar.

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

Why on earth wouldn't her family say something to her .... how sad that nobody took the time to explain it to her.

Warthog0 Loc: CG Florida

It was her grandchildren that came to visit and apparently I would guess, they didnt know she was not using any film.

Singing Swan

Did anybody actually check to see if there was film in the camera? Sounds to me like some sweet old grandma pulled your leg straight off!!!!

tk Loc: Iowa

So when my daughters pat me on the head and ........ oh my.

Warthog0 Loc: CG Florida

I imagine that someone would have noticed. I just don’t know, we are talking about 1967, and my recollection of the incident did not include any conversation regarding whether her grandchildren noticed anything odd regarding her serendipitous ability to foresee filmless cameras, but that is another matter. If she indeed was pulling our legs and was out for an afternoon of mischievous entertainment (and staying with the same anatomical part) and got a kick out of it, then, bless her sweet mirthful soul. Looking back through the foggy lenses of a memory now on Social Security, I do recall her looking a bit like Ruth Gordon’s character Ma Boggs, but in character closer to my dear sainted mother, as they say in Eireann! But then again, she may as you say be chuckling into her kerchief as we speak, in that case, 44 years later I’m still chuckling with her, cause it was a good one.