One last photo on the train

Photo taken in
London, ON
June 2018.
Originally shared
on Instagram

I shot the photo that accompanied my father-in-law's obituary. The story of how it came to be is one that will always make me smile.

He had been visiting us in London, his last trip to our home, as it would ultimately turn out. I was dropping him off at the train in the morning, and given his age at the time - 84 - it felt right to walk him onboard and help settle him into his seat. So when we got to the edge of the platform, I helped him up the stairs, hoisted his suitcase, and carefully packed it in the luggage area before walking him to his seat.

The other travellers kindly gave him a little extra room as he made his way to the middle of the car and sat down. I hovered over him for a bit. He was fiercely independent and eminently capable of getting himself back to Montreal, but I still just couldn't just leave him there, alone. Goodbyes matter in our family, and that day's goodbye was no exception.

I pulled my smartphone out to take a picture. He laughed at yet another example of my photographic weirdness. I had been sticking lenses in his face for as long as I had known him, so why would this morning be any different? He looked happy. He was indeed happy.

Soon enough, it was time to go, so I gave him one last hug and kiss before turning for the door. Except the door was now locked. And no staff were anywhere to be seen. Suddenly, it looked like I was going to Montreal with him. I pounded on the door - no go - then finally figured out how to open the door to the next car. After sprinting through three cars, I found a staff member who radioed to have me let off - but not without first dressing me down for breaking the rules by entering the train in the first place.

I was out of breath, and not about to explain why I needed to climb up beside him. It gave us one more together-moment, one more laugh. One more, period.

I'm glad I broke the rules. I'm glad I took the shot. So was he. You can see it in his face.

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