One Last Game

My father died this week after a long struggle with Alzheimer's. He lived far away and was no longer able to travel for the last few years of his life, and he always told me that he wished he could watch his youngest granddaughter play softball. My dad loves sports and cherished all the videos and photos that I sent him, but he always wanted to see my daughter play in person one more time. Sadly, my dad regressed further and that wasn't possible.

But my daughter had a softball game the day my father passed, and we decided to attend because life goes on, and because I know my dad wouldn't want her to miss it.

My husband and I are both sports photographers and we have a long-standing difference of opinion on light leaks and wisps. My husband says they are merely imperfections, glare off the lens and something to be scientifically explained, and he typically removes them. But I think they are more than that. I think cameras catch things the eyes can't see. I believe they are a sign, a presence, a lost loved one stopping to say hello.

My amazing husband didn't even attempt to take out or fix the wisps and light leaks in the photos. He told me that he couldn't, because he was sure it was my dad, stopping by to watch his youngest granddaughter catch.