Post by kiev4a on May 21, 2007 10:24:37 GMT -5
Back in 1961 I was a sophomore in high school and was named the "official" yearbook photographer--a big deal for me since the rest of the staff was juniors and seniors. That's when mom invested in a real 35mm camera--an Ansco Super Memar with an F2 lens--much better for snapping photos of school activities than the beat up Graphic supplied by the yearbook company.
At the time my parents operated a weekly newspaper in Kuna, Idaho (pop 534). In the spring of '61 Dad learned that the weekly paper in Hailey, Idaho, near Sun Valley, about 150 miles from Kuna, was for sale. He and Mom decided we should go over and check it out. I tagged along with the Super Memar. It was probably late April or early May, when we made the trip.
I wasn't thrilled about the possibility of moving. All my friends were in Kuna and I was dead set against changing schools at that point in my career. On the way to Hailey I told my folks if they moved I intended to find some way to stay in Kuna and finish school there.
Hailey was a nice little town on the banks of the Wood River in those days--about the same size as Kuna. We went to the newspaper office and got the tour. While my parents talked business with the owner, I stood off to the side, the Memar hanging from my neck, feeling sorry for myself, wishing they would quit talking so we could go home.
While the adults were talking an older man with white hair and short beard came into the office. The newspaper owner waved him over, saying something like "Hey, Pappy. There's someone here I want you to meet!"
The man shook hands with my parents and with me. He was very polite and reserved.
I knew, at least vaguely, that the visitor was famous. But at the time I was still feeling sorry for myself and thinking about the possibility of having to leave the place where I had spent my entire life. When Mom leaned over and suggested we should get some pictures of us with the man I acted like a normal teen. I said I didn't want to do it. I suppose I thought that was a good way of punishing them.
After talking for a while the man said goodbye and disappeared. We returned to Kuna and my folks decided not to buy the Hailey paper--partially, I think, because of me.
On July 2, the man we met in the newspaper office killed himself in his Ketchum, Idaho home.
Every so often, when I look at the old Super Memar, I think about the fact that if I hadn't been such a jerk 46 years ago, my photo collection would include pictures of me and my parents with Ernest Hemingway--probably some of the last pictures taken of that world famous author.
Ya never know.
Wayne
At the time my parents operated a weekly newspaper in Kuna, Idaho (pop 534). In the spring of '61 Dad learned that the weekly paper in Hailey, Idaho, near Sun Valley, about 150 miles from Kuna, was for sale. He and Mom decided we should go over and check it out. I tagged along with the Super Memar. It was probably late April or early May, when we made the trip.
I wasn't thrilled about the possibility of moving. All my friends were in Kuna and I was dead set against changing schools at that point in my career. On the way to Hailey I told my folks if they moved I intended to find some way to stay in Kuna and finish school there.
Hailey was a nice little town on the banks of the Wood River in those days--about the same size as Kuna. We went to the newspaper office and got the tour. While my parents talked business with the owner, I stood off to the side, the Memar hanging from my neck, feeling sorry for myself, wishing they would quit talking so we could go home.
While the adults were talking an older man with white hair and short beard came into the office. The newspaper owner waved him over, saying something like "Hey, Pappy. There's someone here I want you to meet!"
The man shook hands with my parents and with me. He was very polite and reserved.
I knew, at least vaguely, that the visitor was famous. But at the time I was still feeling sorry for myself and thinking about the possibility of having to leave the place where I had spent my entire life. When Mom leaned over and suggested we should get some pictures of us with the man I acted like a normal teen. I said I didn't want to do it. I suppose I thought that was a good way of punishing them.
After talking for a while the man said goodbye and disappeared. We returned to Kuna and my folks decided not to buy the Hailey paper--partially, I think, because of me.
On July 2, the man we met in the newspaper office killed himself in his Ketchum, Idaho home.
Every so often, when I look at the old Super Memar, I think about the fact that if I hadn't been such a jerk 46 years ago, my photo collection would include pictures of me and my parents with Ernest Hemingway--probably some of the last pictures taken of that world famous author.
Ya never know.
Wayne
(just kidding) 
