THE BURDEN OF PROOF

I stole the headline for today’s story, and the subject, from the Weekend Australian newspaper. It triggered memories.

I have at least 3,000 digital photographs on my computer and perhaps another 600 hard copy photos at home. But of 3,600 photos I probably have less than 30 of myself. That’s what happens when you are a keen photographer – you take photos of other people. You don't take selfies. 

But what about when you don’t take photos at all, especially one that will back up a good story. You know, like "here's one of me and Mick Jagger the time we sat next to each on a flight to New York. 

Actually, I did set next to Shirley MacLaine on an LA to Toronto flight once. Yes, it was in First Class. And no, I don't have proof. We never spoke until six hours later we were in a queue at Canadian Immigration. She turned around to me and complemented me on my 'sweater.'

I had this same feeling when I was chatting with Greg over a beer the other night. I was telling him about the time I met Gough Whitlam. Greg pretended to believe me but his eyes said otherwise.

Greg tlived in London for awhile in his young days. That's where he met some interesting people. Like John Le Mesurier (Dad's Army) who he regularly drank with at the Fox Hotel in London. And he's also had drink or two with the Australian actor, the late John Meillon, at the Oaks Hotel at Neutral Bay. I pretended to believed Greg but he could probably see it in my eyes that I didn't. No photos.