The Man With the Crooked Smile and Big Hands

A long long time ago Before digital took over the planet. My grandfather was n airman in WW2. He never dropped a single bomb or even fired a weapon in that war.. He was a bit of a pacifist live and let live was his way. Instead he aimed camera lenses at the Germans snapping their country on his belly lay on the planes belly. At the airbase in the UK he printed his photographs. enough to cover a airfield. He met an English lady in the darkroom. They printed their photographs together mixing fixer and develop[er. She got used to his crooked smile and big hands He got used to her being there. When the war ended he returned to the states and opened a camera and photography shop. He built a darkroom by hand when it was finished he went back to England on a cargo ship and found the lady in darkroom. he asked her to marry him and she accepted. when they returned to New York he showed her the darkroom he built for them. On the door was a note held by a thumbtack It said I fell in love with you in the dark but I want you to follow the light with me for the rest of our lives. A year later my dad was born with a crooked smile and big hands and also his love of photography. He had the eye for color and shadow and light. After I was born I did not follow the love of photography. But would get into trouble at school for writing poems in the margins of my work books. I found grandmas note that was pinned on the darkroom door she passed a way a few weeks ago. And I was moved to tell this story. Follow the light Grandma love. look for a big man with crooked smile and big hands hes waiting for you.