Heart’s Desire

This trip provided welcome surprises around every corner

My family likes to travel, and they like to play baseball. I always bring my camera along, as there is never a shortage of interesting photo ops—on the ball field or on the way to the ball field. Ever since my aunt gave me her old camera, when I was about ten years old, I have enjoyed photographing sports, animals ( both wild and domesticated), landscapes and nature. I am now beginning to appreciate bird photography.

In August 2018, our eldest son, Dustin, was participating in a championship baseball tournament in Victoria, so we decided

to visit friends who have a summer home in Edwards Lake, B.C. on the way. Along the highway between Crowsnest Pass, Alta., and Sparwood, B.C., we came upon a small herd of bighorn sheep. My husband, Harold, who is a wildlife lover and supporter of my photography, quickly stopped the vehicle while I propped my lens on the open window of the truck. The herd didn’t want to be bothered and moved away, with the exception of this fella (above), who can only be described as especially curious. As the herd moved away, he slowly joined them, but kept watching us while he did, almost as though posing for photographs.

Although I do not seek out bighorn sheep to photograph, I am impressed by their horns, beautiful coats and interesting eyes. I was grateful to have come upon a herd of them on a beautiful, warm evening with the sun beginning to set, giving the photograph a nice glow.

If you let your eyes travel down the face of this ram, you will notice that his nose is heart-shaped. I didn’t know it at the time, but this heart was a symbol for what was to happen in a few days.

We continued on our travels, enjoying our overnight visit with our friends and then moving on to Victoria. The baseball tournament commenced, but was anticlimactic compared to the news we were soon to learn. While enjoying one of the many wonderful restaurants in Victoria one evening, our son’s girlfriend showed us a diamond ring on her left hand. Dustin had proposed— revealing his heart.