Ray’s Corner Soapbox – A Farewell To A Friend

Most people that know me know that I am an amateur photographer and one of the major players in the Elfrida Photo Group.  We started the group with around six members and have “roller-coasted” at times with members coming and going. 

One of our members was Pat Collins.  Pat could be described as a “Senior Citizen” but you may get the wrath of Pat saying that.  Even with a bad hip, but still having the ability and wits to operate a motor vehicle, she was a “God-send” to our group.

We lost Gladys “Pat” Collins last Thursday after she recently had undergone  a hip replacement at a hospital is Los Angeles followed by a stroke and then dehydration while recovering in a nursing home.  Pat’s daughter, Patsy, brought her mother back to our Sulphur Springs Valley with plans on staying with her mother.  Unfortunately, Pat had other plans and left us here on earth to carry on with life.  Our deepest and most sincere prayers go to Patsy for the loss of her mother.  Patsy has said she is considering remaining here and we look forward to having her visit or become a member of our group.

 

At one of our group meetings we were discussing portrait photography and Pat was my subject.  The first picture of the left is how Pat would always appear….under control and not too big of a smile.  My dad’s old family album was like that, subjects assuming the correct pose which was not to smile.  The one thing I love about my Canon 40D is the rapid fire flash.  After the first flash I just kept going causing her to start laughing.

 

 

She finally relaxed and made the famous “rabbit” pose.

The last picture on the right is her saying, “You didn’t really take that picture, did you?”

Pat was one classy lady that fought back the pain and tears to struggle through Chair Yoga and finally through the photography group where we occasionally took trips into the field.  She attended the first meeting of our group, the first Yoga class offered by the Community Center and the first meeting of an exercise class.  No one would ever hold her back.  And so for Pat, we send our “Namaste”.

--Namaste means --

I honor the place in you where spirit lives.

I honor the place in you, which is of love, of truth, of light and of peace.

When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are one.