His Paris Dream

For many years, I'd heard my father express a desire to wander around Paris photographing the parks and streets of the city. He'd been to Paris before, but always family took precedence and he never had the chance to simply meander with his camera. In 2012, I had the funds to take us both to Paris for 10 days. He declined to go. After days of discussion, I began to understand that he'd got used to longing to go and was a bit afraid of making his dream a reality. With the help of family, who agreed to take care of my mother in his absence, he was finally persuaded. He was 85. My father is a doctor, but he's always been a photographer. Since my childhood he's encouraged me to carry a camera wherever I go. I sometimes felt he was living through my experiences. In Paris we walked and walked, got lost and discovered. He photographed the city and I photographed him. He's 94 now and remains unsatisfied with the photos he took and longs to return to do it again.