The "A Note of Thanks" Story

It was an ordinary day. Just opened a Thank You card from Sally. Sally used to be the Director of the Parish Resource Center (PRC) and my wife's boss. She has become a good friend over the years and can really write a great thank you note! English major in college and it shows. And ...... her cursive writing is fantastic. Flairs and swirls make her notes fun to read as well as receive. Years ago I had her daughter in my Graphic Arts class in high school. She was equally talented and was picked to win the "Steve Humphreville Award" given to the most outstanding student in the Industrial Arts curriculum. First girl to win the award! She went to RIT to major in graphic arts. She now has her own art studio near Philadelphia where she does art therapy. Getting back to my card, it thanks me for taking memorable photographs of the 35th Anniversary of the PRC. It was a two day affair starting with an evening program for past employees and donors to the center. The founder and past President, Douglas was so excited and enthusiastic with all the people that poured through the doors that evening. I was impressed myself with the turnout. Took photos the entire evening of the guests, the program, the unveiling of the "History Wall" sculpture and the food table. Now that was a spread!! Sally's daughter-in-law is a caterer and she makes the best desserts and crab dip. Everything looked like a piece of art. Made sure I had plenty of stops at the table for photos. The following afternoon was another program for the churches that were charter members during the first year that the PRC opened. Close to 40 churches were represented by their pastor, priest or layperson to receive a certificate naming them as a charter member of the PRC. Again I documented the affair with photo after photo. Took close to 200 shots until I was finished. What I was most excited about during the two days was meeting Sally's pastor at Leola United Methodist Church. I approached Sally and him for a photo and when I asked Sally if she would mind a photo taken with her pastor, she said, "Do you remember Tim?" I studied his face for a few seconds and when Sally saw my blank face she said again, "He had you for photography in the late 70s. Wow!! As a teacher you always remember the worst students and the best, but the in-between ones sometimes escape your memory. Tim was one of the in-between students I'm sorry to say. Tim and I talked and talked and I found that he loved photography so much after taking the course that he had made it his hobby since high school. He also took my Graphic Arts course during his senior year. I can't believe he recognized me after all those years. Maybe it was the name that did it. It certainly wasn't the haircut!! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - photos from the top are: Front of the PRC with the fountain, Douglas and Sally, crowd gathered for the program, the "History Wall", former student and pastor Tim, the food, evening photo of the fountain.