Above is pictured the man who is soley responsible for my love of photography. He moved here as a young man to be a logger in the great skagit valley, was a founding father of sorts, a homesteader in the area. It was this great man who gave me my very first, very own camera for my trip to europe. It was a Yashica G35 that he had used while he was in the military. He gifted it to me. And that alone is what budded my interest. He did many other things for me. As a young child, he encouraged my curiosity. He had a very old style to everything, patches from junk to fix things. I take much of who I am from this wonderful man. Many even say my hands are the same as his. Huge, large, loggers hands. Above he is pictured at his last birthday party in may. As is clear, he was not feeling well. It is hard to lose someone you love so much. It helps to know that he is resting now, he suffered so long the last year. Once he was always happy, always smiling, and thats how I will remember him. Rest in peace Grandpa, you will be sorely missed. I love you.