Behind The Camera - Grimes Glen
April 26, 2021. This was the day my grandfather died.
I was driving to Grimes Glen in Naples, NY when I got the call. He had passed in his sleep. I had not seen him for over a year due to policies in his memory care facility. Last time I did see him, his mind had gone enough that I wasn't Josh anymore. I was a friendly young man listening to him praise the luxuries of his new living situation. Optimist to the core.
It was a Monday. I took the day off from work to give myself a long weekend and spend my day venturing out in search of waterfalls. I love waterfalls, however, due to anxiety I often never made it to my destination before having mild panic attacks. Grimes Glen is a 1 mile trek up Grimes Creek with two water falls, one about halfway up.
A year prior, on my first attempt, I only made it to the first waterfall. That was far enough for me to begin feeling anxious and turn around, but not before taking this photo:
I had been practicing walking further distances. I hiked other areas, went on longer and longer walks, in hopes that I would be comfortable enough to discover these waterfalls on my own. That Monday was the day that I would conquer Grimes Glen and take photos of the second waterfall.
Then my phone rings.
Shock. That is all I had. Almost to Naples I hung up the phone and just sat in silence. Would I still go on my hike? Is it worth finishing the drive? Was I going to be able to finish the hike this time and not feel like a complete failure?
Excuses flooded my mind as I began crying. Feeling lost, lonely, fear, I was struggling to know how to think. But then I thought about my grandpa. One of the most intrepid men I've known. A visionary, he never took a moment for granted. I respected him greatly, though he was full of flaws. I strive to be like him in many ways to this day.
With a gentle reminder of how short life is, I dedicated this hike and these photos to him. I made it to the end of my hike, I saw this incredible waterfall in person, and I wasn't anxious at all during the process. These photos are in memory of my late grandfather. I know he would have been proud.
These aren't just photos. Rest in peace, Michael Wasyl Borowiec