Camera found on 34th Street bus… in 1980's(c)

By Dee-Dee Diamond

Karma knocked January 2022.

It banged onto my dear old head, as I forcefully pried open the stuck attic door. “OUCH…gawd almighty”, I cussed falling back.

Then I remembered where it came from…my conscience panged!

Some 40 years ago, I found the well-used expensive camera, on an empty crosstown bus. Instinctively, I grabbed it, (before another stranger), would discover it. It was left under my seat by whoever occupied it before me.

I had meant to turn it over to the lost & found, but never got around to it. Instead, I brought it home and put the thing out of sight. It remained hung behind the seldom used door. Now I was forced to confront the darn thing, as I was rubbing the sore lump rising on my frontal lobe.

Whose …. camera was it anyway…was it a tourist’s… from where? Who took the images in the undeveloped film? Was the photographer dead…are the subjects still alive? What American landmarks are they posed in front of? Are they still a part of NYC or like The Twin Towers, some statues, tenements, etc. gone?

What secrets, joys, sorrows lie unseen? Should I develop the roll of film or let sleeping ghosts lie?

Why the hell did I take it and not give it in? Surely, the absentminded visitor would have rejoiced.

What would you do, dear reader, if you were me 40 years later?

Let’s discuss.