Memory

I just found out last week that a good friend from Bethany college died in August. Rick was 50 and we were good friends 30 years ago. He was such an amazing guy - full of curiosity and possessing a crisp intelligence that often left me feeling behind the eight-ball although he never used his sharpness to lift himself higher than others.

Rick was a photographer and one day we went to the Saskatoon conservatory and he took photos of me - and one remains my favourite to this day. I always felt that Rick the friend reached through his camera, and I've been in favour of a friendly photographer ever since. While photos are technically all about physics and chemistry (light/film), I sometimes can see that the photo captured a more ephemeral essence of truth.

Even though Rick and Barb were more "annual letter" friends, there has always been a comfort in knowing that they were there. I miss his presence very much.