13. Camera Mishap

Railroad Bridge over the Inn River. (Tomasito, photo)

13


Camera Mishap

A dusting of new snow has fallen during the night.

Perfect!

I walk the city streets and soon find myself on a footpath beside the Inn River. Following the current downstream, I am heading north as I hoped––exactly one day late, which is probably the precisely correct pilgrim time.

When I am surrounded by parkland; I pause to adjust my backpack harness. Arriving at the best fit for one’s equipment is interesting and important for a long-distance hiker, so I take time to adjust the harness straps.

Walking on into the brightening day, I soon come upon a stone railway bridge, which arches across the river through the morning mist.

I hear a train coming and hurry to take my camera out of its case to take a photo of the train as it crosses the bridge. In my haste I place too much strain on the camera’s carrying strap and break its’ plastic battery compartment lock.

This is not the first time speed and certain carelessness have cost me dearly—the camera was a gift from my Kolbermoor friends and I can’t afford another. It apparently still works but has been seriously damaged by my clumsy handling.

There is a lesson in this mishap that I have time to ponder as I continue slowly on foot: I had hoped for a camera like this one for a long time before I obtained it––and now it has been ruined by a moment of heedlessness.

This is a serious loss to me but perhaps this lesson will help me proceed with more care and deliberation in using other valuable tools in the future because I really must learn to be more patient and methodical even when pressed for speed—perhaps some day when more is at stake than a short-lived plastic camera.

One of the beauties of solitary pilgrimage is that you have time to meditate on the simple events of your day such as this.

Tomasito, 2009


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