You won’t believe how a quick peek at a store’s window can change a person’s life. That’s precisely what happened to me over 60 years ago.

My mom and I were rushing down 16th Street in downtown Denver to catch the 64 bus home. We made it to the bus stop just in time for our ride to pull to the curb. I had a moment to look back at the display window of a jewelry store.

Usually, a glance at a jewelry display would be enough for a 12-year-old boy. But on that day, at that particular moment…

…there, right in the middle of watches, rings, bracelets, and necklaces arranged on fake velvet, was a camera, its two vertical “eyes” staring back at me. I was mesmerized!

It was an Argus box camera, and I wanted it…bad!

I didn’t see a price tag, but I knew we couldn’t afford that camera. No matter the price, it would be a frivolous purchase, way beyond our family’s means.

Mom was a miracle worker or was too tired of listening to my unrelenting whining and moaning. A few weeks later, the camera was mine, never mind Dad had to work two days to earn enough money for the purchase.

In retrospect, to my shame, it was a long time before I came to appreciate my parents’ sacrifice so that I could have that camera.

In those “dark ages,” before “digital,” a camera needed to be “fed” film to be of any use. And, film costs money. The film needed to be sent to the local drugstore to be “developed.” The images you captured with your camera were recorded on “film,” which was sent to a “lab” to turn the film into pictures.

All of this cost money. And that’s one thing our family didn’t have.

Through much scrimping and saving for the next several years, we purchased a few rolls of film “to feed” that camera. We even managed to turn those rolls of film into pictures. The pictures were all black and white; we could never afford color film. But it was just enough to preserve some important memories.

I upgraded my cameras as I grew older, but that old Argus always had a special place in my heart. It wasn’t just a camera but a symbol of my parents’ love and sacrifice. It was a tool that helped me see the world differently, appreciate the beauty in everyday moments, and connect with others.

As a semi-retired amateur photographer, I don’t use film or even own a traditional camera. I rely on my iPhone to capture images. But that little Argus will always be my first love.

That day, standing in front of that jewelry store window, I never would have guessed the impact that camera would have on my life. I never would have imagined the memories, the moments, and the people it would help me capture. And I never would have known the lessons it would teach me about the actual value of things in life.