Merry Christmas to Me

Guess what I did? I accidentally won something. Something big. Well, I guess that all depends on what YOU think big is. But I was overcome with surprise and gratitude. I won my little city's photo contest -- which is farcical at best. But I won nonetheless and the prize was just what I wished for: a gift certificate to the local camera shop.

Of course I wouldn't be me if I didn't also spend three times as much as the gift certificate and get something I REALLY wanted.

But in winning this contest I realized the most important thing. It's not the camera, it's the perspective that makes the picture. The way I see things, or rather happened to see things at that very moment were enough to get someone's attention. That point was proved when I showed up to be interviewed and photographed with the 11 other winners. The reporter/photographer asked if I brought my camera with me.

Surrounded by true professional and hobbyist photographers wielding fancy cameras with big lenses I said, "Oh just one minute, it's in my purse." And I rummaged around in my much-too-full purse and pulled out my little pink gem, a SONY point and shoot. Stifled laughs all around. But I won just as much as them, so pfffft!

PHOTO NOTE: The winning photograph.