I took these pictures with my point-and-shoot this afternoon while at The Firm, probably a subconscious reaction to some horrific news I found in a newspaper article online only a few minutes before. The colours (created by sun on dirty windows boosted a little in Lightroom) give the photo a surreal feeling, appropriate to the rest of today.
In a daze I read the words “memorial scholarship” beside his name at his university’s website and there was no denying that he was gone, at age 39. He appears only in the first year of this website (the original version is still online), but I made a point early on not to write about my love life and so the mentions are scarce. Every relationship is special in its own way, but I don’t think I would’ve had the same reaction this afternoon if the news were about someone else.
We went to Europe together in 2003, one of the few times I had ever arranged a big holiday with someone. He documented the trip much better than I did — I’d just finished writing my final term papers and semester exams at SFU and was sick of writing… I couldn’t wait to get on an airplane. I found his detailed travel notes last night and saved them to read for later.
I called his parents in Calgary this evening and spoke to them at length. It had been a long time, and I didn’t know what they would think of me phoning. But I phoned anyway, and I’m glad I did. I just wish it were for different reasons.
Be thankful for every day.
