My Dad and the Camera

So, back in the beginning of July my Dad was hospitalized with some heart issues.
To keep a long story short, I took my original camera a Canon 300D SLR with me.
I've had this camera for oh, 7yrs or so, taken 12,000 pictures probably with it.
Originally it cost $1000 as it was one of the first Digital Cameras with an interchangeable lens.
I took a lot of really great pics with it, a lot of family memories, a lot of weddings etc.

For some reason, I figured I would be taking some pictures going back home.
Not sure why, I lived there for 26 years and my Dad was in the hospital so it wasn't like I really had anything I wanted to take a picture of.

But, on the way there I decided to park my car at my work and walk 15-20minutes to the rail system here (that was a pain), with a suitcase in tow with a broken wheel, a laptop and the camera around my neck. Needless to say, I was in a rush and it was a difficult process as I also had decided to take the Train once I got to CA to Escondido to save money.

Once I finally got on the train, I was sweaty after lugging everything around going this route (hope to never do it again). On the train, there was no place to sit so I stood in the onboarding area that was open. There was a guy with his bike on the train and he looked fairly suspect. I remembering thinking - I better not let my stuff out of sight and checked and made sure I had my camera around my neck (the best place to make sure I didn't forget it).

Well, I got tired of standing and finally found a spot to sit. I took off the camera, opened up the laptop (my work laptop) and started watching a movie. I had my earphones in and after some time, a conductor came by and checked my ticket. A long while after that, the conductor came by again and let me know my stop was coming up. At that time, I realized I was just about at my stop so I had to hurry, I took my headphones off, I unplugged my laptop from the outlet and put everything back in my laptop bag so I wouldn't lose it seeing as it was my work laptop. I grabbed my suitcase and got off of the train. Once I was off, I was trying to figure out which way to go and where to meet my family to pick me up. Well, after a short while I realized I had left my camera on the train. I eventually called Amtrak and put in a lost claim which they of course never called me back about. I followed up once, but they said unless they called me it wasn't found. I even put a post on the Craigslist in San Diego, all to no avail.

So now, 6 months later I started investigating new cameras to get to replace it. My camera I lost isn't worth much now if I got the same one, but I always hoped of upgrading it since it was really old. I wish I still had it to at least sell it to offset the cost of a new one. Plus, I lost the kit lens it came with and a 50mm lens which was awesome and will cost $100 to replace.

I look back and never was upset about losing it. Disappointed yes, but at the time and given the circumstances of going to see my Dad, I take it all in stride. I accept the fact that the whole situation with my Dad and everything that happened had a great cost financially involved with it and still does, but money isn't everything, it's just a resource that unfortunately we need in this day and age to get by. And since resources are currently short, I'm very hesitant to make this sort of investment.


Another thought came up today as part of this process, Clayton is going to start playing Soccer soon. It will be the first organized sport he's been involved with.

Soccer was also a sport my Dad was involved in when I was growing up. He used to referee games and I would go to the games and occupy myself while he was refereeing.
He used to play soccer himself until he blew out his knee many years ago.

Soccer was actually the first sport I was involved in myself. My Dad was the one, who if I remember right taught me some how to play and used to kick the ball around with me.
I ended up playing for 5yrs and my Dad even coached one of my teams.
We only won one game but I distinctly remember being the goalie and getting the game saving stop on penalty kicks.
He was involved in the games and with the other Dads who were there.
He took great pride in me and playing. I don't remember how good I may have been, but I remember being pretty decent. I know I won a trophy a time or two.
I always prided myself on hustling and being quick no matter where I was or how the game was going.

So now that Clayton is going to play I was thinking it's sad that my Dad won't be here to see it. To hear about it. To witness it. And on that thought, I was thinking the camera I had on the way to see my Dad was lost and without a replacement I won't be able to capture Clayton's time playing a sport I loved, my Dad loved and now he may come to love.