This is something of a sentimental post. It's about the west coast, about my home, about where I've come from and about where I'm headed. And somehow, all of this was summed up in a single day. Well that's not technically true.

This weekend I was called out to be a focus puller (that's the guy who makes sure the image stays sharp throughout a shot - for those SLR feinds out there, I'm your left hand) on what turned out to be an overgrown College Film School production. Wasn't that exciting with the exception of the fact that the DP is something of a local legend (Tony Mirza - imdb him...) and that Byron Kopman happened to be the Gaffer (or dude in charge of playing with the lights). Now, this is where my digression begins, but believe me, its a story worth telling.

Byron and I started making movies together in grade 9 and depending on whose story you believe, either he got me inspired or I gave him his start. Both are true. We've worked on numerous high school projects together and have eventually made our way into the independent mainstream. The thing is, I hadn't see him in about 2 years, since I left for Switzerland. So I finally ran into him on set and amid other conversation, he invited me on a hike up Vancouver's notorious "Lions" - two ignious rock intrusions visible amid the north shore mountains. Of course, I said yes.... why else would I be writing this?

Let's just say the hike was sublime. Byron, acting as the oncall taxi driver in his dad's Chrysler Pacifica, picked us all up around 7:30am, and we were on the trail by 8am. After nearly getting lost at the first fork in the road some 500m up the trail, we walked through the trees, taking occasional peeks out at what at that point looked like a spectacular view. We hadn't seen anything yet!

When we finally cleared the tree line into the open, we caught a glimpse of what can only be described as my reason for loving home. In short we spent 9 hours in the most beautiful suroundings that could possibly justify the existence of a god (and I'm an atheist). We laughed (a lot), we talked about life, the universe....everything (D.A. was right: the answer is 42), we sat in awe... and when the numb captivation of that day wore off (sometime earlier today), I cried.

I have been truly fortunate to have had this experience. Byron, Catherine and Jen, you will all hold a very special place in my heart for a very long time. Perhaps forever. Thank you for creating a memory of Vancouver that will ensure I never think bad thoughts of this place. and sorry about my camera not working.

Love, Peace and Rock and Roll forever. Stay cool, BC. Love ya with all my heart.