RE: [Leica] "Is this a Leica Convention?"

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

At least he didn't try to pass himself off as the Great Candian
Photojournalist, Ted Grant!:-)



> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Ted Grant
> Sent: Monday, July 03, 2000 10:58 AM
> To: LUG
> Subject: [Leica] "Is this a Leica Convention?"
>
>
>
> Hi Gang,
> Well here's a new one for "spotting Leicas!"
>
> During the Canada Day Celebration Saturday, Sandy and  I were working
> the celebration for my Leica Seminar, she with 2 M6's, me with two R8's,
> 35-70, 280 with 1.4 X and an M6 around my neck, Noctilux.
>
> As usual one rarely sees another Leica in a big crowd, when we were
> pleasantly surprised coming along was an old lad pushing a stroller
> walker and a IIIC hanging on his neck, My first thought was "Good on you
> for getting out in this crowd to take some happy snaps at whatever your
> age!"
>
> Well he spotted us with all our gear and a great big smile came across
> his face. He wheeled right over,  "You folks must be pros with all that
> Leica stuff, nice to meet another Leica person!" Held out his hand and
> we shook it firmly!  He was 85 years old and had this camera since he
> bought it new away back when, he figured it worked as good as the day he
> got it, as the pictures "always turned out real good!"  And it had never
> been serviced.
>
> He couldn't remember how many rolls he shot, but still took a few frames
> every week or so even at this age.  And when the roll was finished the
> people at the old folks home where he stayed took the film into, "one of
> them new fangled 1 hour places for his prints!"
>
> So when it was the big Day for Canadians he thought he'd get some nice
> celebration snaps as he didn't figure he'd be around for too many more
> Canada Day's!
>
> We wished him well as he shuffled off into the crowd where he stopped
> every once in awhile to steady himself on the walker with one hand,
> lifting the camera with the other to look through the viewfinder, then
> quickly reaching up to shoot!  Man when I'm that old I sure hope I have
> the where with all to hit the crowd and shuffle along making happy
> snaps. :-)
>
> And here I am referring to myself as the "old fart!"  Hell, I'm just a
> young lad with Leicas compared to this old fella!   So hang on folks
> there's hope for us all yet! :-)
> ted
>