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Ahead of My Time
An unforgettable Washington D.C. moment happened years ago at the top of the Lincoln Memorial. I was ready to snap my first iconic photo, only to discover that my camera battery was depleted.
“Fear not,” I thought. “I have a spare.”
Sadly, it too was drained. In my excitement, I had neglected to recharge it. There was no backup plan because this embarrassment happened in the days before capable smartphone cameras. The outcome? No pictures of my first visit with Mr. Lincoln, other than the postcards I bought at the gift shop.
That incident was top of mind last week as I once again climbed the steps to see the 16th president of the United States. Like the first time, I had a camera around my neck. And I made sure the batteries were charged.
Times have changed, however. As I looked around inside the monument, I noticed that I was a bit of a novelty. Not because of my height, which I’m used to. But because I was the only person with a camera around my neck. Hundreds of pictures were being captured — selfies, group shots, scenics, and panoramas — and every one of them, minus one lanky exception, was being taken with a smartphone.
Was I really the only one with a dedicated camera?
I had felt very stylish when I left my room earlier that morning. I was wearing gray travel pants (the kind with…
