Looking back while flying away

Saying goodbye, for now
Somewhere between London & Toronto, ON
February 2019
This photo originally shared on Instagram

Our daughter once gave me a piece of photographic advice - "Just take the lousy picture, Dad." - that I carry with me to this day.

What she meant was simple: Stop fretting over photographic perfection, because not all photos are meant to be perfect. Sometimes a quick, crappy snap is enough to remember the moment before you move onto the next.

This one, then, should be a poster child for the crappy photo. We were climbing to altitude out of London International Airport, headed to Toronto's Pearson, en route to our conference in Orlando. I looked back through the window of our commuter turboprop - Dash 8 Q400 - and saw the loveliest sunset-fuelled colors reflecting off the back of the engine nacelle. It was hardly an ideal shot, as the windows were all scratched and smudged, and the interior reflections made it almost impossible to see out.

But I was still moved, still felt this was, somehow, a special moment. I couldn't help but think the sun was shining for a reason - one last burst of color before we flew into the darkness. It felt like the universe was smiling at me, wishing me a safe trip ahead.

Or maybe it was just a reminder to look over our shoulders every once in a while. Not because we're suspicious or fearful, but because it never hurts to know where we've come from as we embark on a long, complex journey. A little somewhat-compromised optical grounding is always good for the soul. My kid, she's wise.

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