It all started off as a dare from my bestfriend as we sat in her family owned grocery store in Howard, KS. on that hot
summer day.
The ad I would answer would say "Blond hair, blue eyed photographer looking for fellow photographer friends" How was
I to know this friendship would span 28 years? Dave and I started writting I was barely 18 and really knew nothing about
photography. That is where Dave would teach me more than I would ever realize.
His patience is teaching me about darkroom techniques and what equipment I should purchase.
When he learned that my equipment had been stolen he sent me his old equipment so I
would still have equipment. I could always expect a package from Dave with a short note telling me hi and letting me see
the latest studio session he had had with his family, or the awesome lighthouse photographs that he had taken.
I was the lucky one to receive all his old photography magazines
that he had subcriptions too.
It was more than just the physical gifts he sent me, but also the friendship that I could see developing between us. I got to hear all about his
family, the marriages, births and sadly to say the deaths.
I never got to meet my friend. He lived in CT. I lived in KS. and while we would often talk of meeting it never happened.
I did get to speak to him on the phone a few times and while he was a man a few words, I can still him him saying my
name with his east coast accent.
Before I knew Dave was sick we had talked about me planning a lighthouse tour and stopping by to get him so he could show
me his favorite places. I won't let my friend down. Some day I will make that tour just like Dave's Dad told me I should
still do. I will go and find the lighthouse my friend loved to photograph.
Tell the ones you love that "You Love Them"
I would like to thank the family of Dave Smith
for allowing me to use his work to keep his name alive. You had a wonderful son, brother and uncle, as I had as a friend.
