Tale of a Splotch: eulogy for a nemesis
The splotch first appears alongside Dani
The Splotch (23 March - 5 April 2007) entered our world suddenly and mysteriously, on the way to Niagara Falls for a weekend run by Hasbara Fellowships, something I can only now identify with hindsight. In many ways, our lives were always deeply interconnected (when I set out on a journey, it would journey too; as I camped, it camped), and yet I only became aware of the Splotch’s existence in the early hours of the morning of the 25th, at the Hard Rock Cafe, Niagara.
George, Splotched
Splotch just hours before its end
It was there, always strong, courageous, defiant, in the top-right of each photo. It remained when I zoomed in, so it wasn’t on the screen. I borrowed a lens-cleaning cloth from George and gave the lens a wipe down. But the splotch remained stubborn.
The Splotch hides on a tree
It was not long after I first met the Splotch that I began to find myself in enmity towards it. I would angrily mouth off about it to friends. I had nearly stopped taking photos because it always got in the way.
Splotch and the sale of chametz
It found its way onto people or plants, books or scenery, a choir, even a sale of chametz contract. Sometimes darker, sometimes lighter, but constantly there.
Splotch and the Venice Rabbinic Bible
Because of it, I shuffled through my documents looking for a warranty and a receipt for my camera (warranty only in Australia; although I got tax back on the receipt when leaving Oz it was nowhere to be found). I considered finding a repair shop, but never got around to it.
Then this morning, when getting changed after a physio appointment (sore knee; long story), my camera fell out onto the tiled bathroom floor, spilling its battery out a few centimetres further away. This of course worried me a little. But I was not worried about the Splotch; I was worried about the camera. I picked it up, returned the battery, and switched it on. It was working just the same, but the Splotch was … still there. Only it had moved up.
Montreal scenery after the Splotch
This ignited in me a sudden murderous rage- I now knew how to rid myself of the Splotch, the bane of my photographic existence. I gave the camera a few whacks on the cushion of a chair. I checked. I looked again. I sighed a sigh of relief and laughed a laugh of victory.
The Splotch was gone. May it rest in peace.
PS (actually prescripts, being written before the post, but appended at the bottom):
1) Sorry for not writing in so long. Much has been going on. Too much, maybe.
2) Sorry for leaving such obvious chametz as the top post on my blog over pesach.
3) Chag sameach!
4) After some wonderful days of springy sunny weather complete with chirping, soaring birds and scurrying squirrels and budding trees, we’ve landed up with more snow. Heavy now for a day, in fact. The place is white again, and I have to take my scarf out. Weird.
Thank you for clarifying the splotch story. It explains alot: strangely it does not stop in the cyberfields of this blog. It has mysteriously affected the lives of many of us - and the information abbove accounts for another piece of the mysterious puzzle. Strangely enough, I was not even aware of the Hasbara weekend in Niagra Falls while it was happening. I was too busy with school at the time. Indeed, I would probably not be aware of it until today, if not for, I now speculate, the splotch imprinted on the photos of Joel’s camera.
It was that fateful weekend that within a week, brought a whole bunch of us together in Montreal, including Gabe (from Toronto), Ronit, George and, indeed, several others. At first I thought it was cupid who did it - but no. We don’t believe cupid exists. It was probably the splotch.
And I think I can also explain why it disappeared. No - it wasn’t because you hit your camera. It was because the splotch’s mission was accomplished.
I should also attribute some of the credit to Hasbara Fellowships - what a great organization. Anyone considering going on their program in Israel, dare not think twice.
Cheers
Comment by Shai — 18 April, 2007 @ 4:12 pm