Full Circle

During my second week on the job at the Juneau Empire in 1982 I took photos of Urs Oskar Keller, a journalist from Switzerland who was traveling through Alaska. He arrived in Juneau in the middle of the night by ferry and since it was so late he camped in the doorway of the Teen Club. He rolled out his sleeping bag and got some needed sleep. During the night a thief stole his back pack.

We did a story on him in the paper. My photo showed him standing and talking with his hands outstretched talking about how he lost everything. The town rallied and helped him out in part due to the story.

Today during the second week since I was laid off he found me from his home in Switzerland and sent me an email asking if I still had the photo. Somewhere in my files I do have it. A small coincidence. But I like to think there might be greater meaning. Got to start my search for the photo. I have a reason to be a photographer today!

I told him I was laid off from my job of 27 years and here is his letter. He is a German speaker so his English is a bit off but the meaning is clear.

"My dear Brian

I am so sorry to hear that. But sometimes is a change something good, even when it seems in the beginning as unfaire and hard.

I hope you are not to worry and I wish you much, much success in the near and fare future.

Time flies. Does the Juneau Empire suffers from the changing media print media world?

Yes, I would love to get your fine pictures of my first and unhurt criminal encounter in Juneau, when I was young and also already a reporter. I love to hear from you again.

Have a fine Christmas time and a lot of energy for a new period in your life.

With fond regards from your Swiss collegue

URS

Urs Oskar Keller"

I think of what Urs and other friends have said. That my being laid off may have a good reason that will become apparent someday. If Urs was not robbed all those years ago I never would have met him. He would have passed anonymously through Juneau and only a few would have met him and known what a fine man he is. As it was hundreds met him as the town rallied to assist him and the town is much richer from knowing Urs now.

An elderly friend of my late mom's said. "Maybe now you can get married now you are no longer married to your work." That's a thought. One of the last things mom said to me was. "I am dying. Don't be sad. Get married."

I have been taking lots of long walks the past week. I am always drawn to the waterfront. Several years ago there was a map of the world laid out on the Cruise Ship Dock. The outline of the map is made of nails. They are hard to see but today the frost made nail outline stand out. They were almost cryptic messages just for me. My two favorite ones said. "500 Miles and Yesterday/Today. Almost a message with meaning for me. Maybe it means I need to go to Buenos Aires.