I Have Named My Camera

Her Name Is Joni, And I Will Tell You Why

“Joni, with Her Favorite Shopping Bag” — Image by Author

I have named my beloved camera, Joni. This is my simple tribute to Joni Mitchell. Along with Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell is my all time favorite song writer.

Joni Mitchell is a master musician, and a master painter. My longest held dreams have been to be a musician, and to be a painter. Unfortunately I was gifted with neither of these talents. And yes, I have been gifted with many talents, and I am grateful for all of them.

Now I make beautiful music with my dear camera, Joni. I also do my best to paint with my words, at times successfully, at others not so much.

I’m listening to Joni’s album Blue, as I type these words. She is an inspiration always, and always will be.

A month ago I was having a Face Time conversation with my oldest and dearest friend, Wil. We have been friends for 52 years. That’s nearly 75 percent of my life. It’s also one of my greatest treasures.

I was telling Wil about how much I loved this new camera I am using. I also mentioned that I had anthropomorphized my camera in several of the stories I had written, referring to my camera as, “She.”

He immediately said, “You have to name her.” He went on to say that it would crystalize our relationship.