[Leica] IN MEMORIUM

[kenlass at gate.net (Ken Lassiter)]

Dear Ted:

Carol and I cried again when we read your touching tribute to our dear 
friend Irene.  She was a great lady who was the classic woman behind a 
successful man.  

We miss her too -- even though we are thousands of mile away in Florida. We 
remember the good times and the laughs and her memory lives on with us too.

We love ya, Ted!  ...Ken and Carol Lassiter

Message: 38
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2013 11:38:31 -0700
From: <tedgrant at shaw.ca>
Subject: [Leica] IN MEMORIUM
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
Message-ID: <04643B7217CF4E278EF7FFFE0EC4997E at syneticfeba505>
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reply-type=original

To the LUG FAMILY. A shared memorial.

The LUG to me evolved into a form of family over the years, must be near 10 
years?  I've made a grand number of friends whose personage is only on the 
screen, but in mental relationship they are as brothers and sisters within 
the LUG family.

Others I've the greater plesure of shaking their hands, enjoyed face to face 
conversation and most certainly  "a wee dram of Single Malt Scotch." We have 
laughed ourselves almost silly at times and yet felt the loss of some of the 
finest photographer human beings you would ever want to know.

My wife Irene who passed away a year ago, some of you knew her personally, 
was part of the family as are most wives and or husbands. So it is with this 
"membership of screen family" I post this memorial to my dear wife Irene who 
started my wild and crazy life in photography when she gave me my first 
camera, 27 May 1950.

"She was the toughest assed "PHOTO EDITOR ONE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE!"  By the 
same token, gave praise so beautifully when it was worth receiving when you 
"shot a good one!"

TO IRENE:

The past few days as the one year has arrived as I am today, it's bringing 
many wonderful memories of Irene and our lives during our 64 years  ( I was 
going to say enjoyable wedded bliss?)   But I thought as I typed the last 
word.... "bliss" there would be a bolt of lightening and me sitting here 
fried and naked before a smoldering computer! :-) That would be her quiet 
subtle way of letting me know she was still around keeping an eye out for my 
well being. :-)

As every couple do during a long and generally happy union, we all have 
what we might say, the odd... "Maddening moments!"  However if the love is 
strong enough for each other, it holds fast and we stand fast together and 
push the "usually minor negative moment" aside! And carry on as steadfast as 
we were when we said our marriage vows to each other so long ago, when we 
were a couple of twenty year olds in the truest innocence of the world!

Over the years while away on long periods of assignments I missed her, but 
always knew when I opened the door to home. Or walking into the waiting 
crowded air-terminal her smiling face and warm hug was the best home coming 
in the world!

Today, one year after her passing, sometimes I hate opening the door to "our 
empty home" that still has her comforting touch that I know will always be 
there. She maybe gone, but her wonderful presence is still here assuring me 
at a low moment she is still keeping an eye on me with her ever loving ways. 
I did love her so!

Thank you all for being part of my family.

Ted