Richard's Mom on My Mantle

My Uncle's good friend Richard passed away in September at 87 yrs old. He lead a privileged life growing up - taking trips around the world, Paris, Miama, Vienna, Salzburg etc., at a time when the 1930's depression was hitting home hard. Later in life he married a woman he absolutely adored and happily stayed together for 40 years until she died in 1993. Richard was an only child and had no kids of his own. This weekend my Uncle handed off boxes and boxes of old 16mm film reels taken by Richard's Dad of him when he was a boy.

I knew Richard. He was a comedian, a chain smoker, a traveler, a shorty, a fancy dresser, and a kind gentle man with a heart as big as they come. Knowing how I love old Cine cameras, Dad dropped by to pass on the nostalgia. The dusty cardboard reaked of nicotine but most of the contents inside stayed airtight and free of oxidizing or drop-outs. Naturally, old film stock degrades badly but restoration can clean up most of it.

"Hmmmm....wonder what this sealed vault contains?, Dad asks. He pauses, tips it from side to side, tries to rattle it, then it dawns on him. He slowly puts the box down and takes a step backwards to breath again. It's Richard's Mom! Yes, all 6 pounds of her in a tiny black box that's been buried with old film stock for 40 years. She was cremated but Richard was buried 2 months ago - a little too late now to include her ashes with her only son. What to do? What to do?

I decide to volunteer an option. "Since these old film reels have been home for her 40 years I'll take her", I offer. "She was a traveler, I'm a traveler, she hung out with cameras all her life - so do I, she loved adventure and risk taking - so do I. It's a natural fit". So, it's settled beams Dad. "Richard's Mom stays with you". And that's how I've come to find myself with one more housemate this week. It would have been nice if she could help with the morgage but I'm sure we'll manage just fine together.