I was lucky enough to ask people to smile. It has been an amazing nine years for me. I took a risk with a part time job and every day since I've been so grateful for the opportunity.
Life changes, and even when I'm the one instigating the change, it can still offer moments when I wonder if I am doing the right thing with the next risk.
I've learned many things over the last nine years about life in a small town. I've appreciated the rarity of the sound of sirens and even though I have had to cover incidents that challenged families and the community when the news wasn't good I was encouraged by the way people acted as community making the story about the volunteers, the generosity, the solutions and the survival.
One of my biggest challenges was learning and remembering names and trying to keep family connections straight in my head. My greatest joy was talking pictures.
There are people who don't want their picture taken. I've heard every excuse, but in nine years of holding up the camera with the big lens up to my face with only my big-toothed grin showing underneath, my subjects have almost always smiled. I couldn't ask anyone to smile for me without smiling at them as well, and though there are more lines in my face, every grin has been worth it.
I've filled up the memory of three computers, two external hard drives, numerous memory cards and have worn out more than five digital cameras with photographs. I've written hundreds of thousands of words and become a better writer.
In watching and documenting the events in these small towns, I've learned about co-operation, celebration and sometimes the weather is the biggest news. I've spent hundreds of weeks looking for something new to write about and my favourite stories were about the people and their passions.
Interviewing people about their talents, hobbies, occupations and dreams encouraged me to try new things and value my own. It renewed in me a desire to continue to learn and take risks.
I've said hello to new families and new babies and goodbye to those who stopped at the junction of Highways 16 and 21 for less time than we did and to those who stayed as long as 100 years. I've watched other small towns fade away, losing all of their businesses, schools and people, while I lived in a community constantly growing and changing and opening its arms to new people and the talents they brought along.
I won't be taking as many pictures of strangers who have become friends from now on, but I'm pretty sure you'll still smile at me and I won't even have to ask.
