Lately, I have been spending a lot of time thinking about when and how the photography bug bit me. I thought it really took hold after my first photography course at Texas Tech, but the more I thought about it I realized that I had been fascinated by cameras longer than that.  Then I remembered that one of my high school English teachers had been a photography buff and had given me a book about Ansel Adams. Yet, once again, I realized that wasn’t the catalyst.

My memory took me back to Ms. Green and Mr. McCoy teaching 4-H photography classes when I was in the 5th grade, but something told me that wasn’t the starting point. Then it finally dawned on me, or maybe I was gently reminded by a familiar voice in my head.  It was an unexpected gift that actually brought me to an appreciation of other unexpected gifts that I wrote about in my last blog.

When I was about seven, I had spent a couple of weeks with Grandma Gentry and as I got ready to go back home with my folks, Grandma sent me off with a very special gift ~ a Kodak Brownie Starflash Camera. Her words ~ “I think you should have this, I know you’ll really enjoy it.”

She was right! I used to wonder how others can recognize our gifts and talents sometimes even before we do, but not anymore, after all grandma’s know best!  Over the years photography has grown from a hobby, to a much needed distraction and now it is truly a passion. I still have that Brownie and I have decided to dust it off and preserve it along with some of my favorite shots, as a tribute to that wonderful and wise lady.  Turns out her gift was more than just a camera!

Thank you Grandma, I know you are smiling down on me with each and every click of the shutter.