Sunset “eagle” inspires farewell wishes for Eagle editor
COFFEE WITH WARREN, with Warren Harbeck
Cochrane Eagle, October 15, 2015
A giant “eagle” dominated the spectacular sunset over Cochrane last Friday, seen here facing south from the West Valley Centre along Quigley Dr. just west of the Cowboy Trail. Photo by Warren Harbeck
It seemed to be flying over Cochrane like a giant eagle heading toward new horizons.
The “eagle” was, of course, a bold cloud formation in one of the most spectacular sunsets I’ve ever seen above our beloved Alberta foothills.
Last Friday evening while my wife Mary Anna and I were enjoying dinner at the Cumbrian Arms Neighborhood Pub, we happened to glance out the window and discovered the sky was being embraced by a quickly developing sunset that begged to be photographed.
I put down my fork, rushed out to the car, and grabbed the Canon G15 I’d brought with me.
Camera in hand, I hurried over to the far side of the parking lot – hurried, because the sky was changing so quickly, growing more vivid by the second in its palette of blue, purple, pink, orange, and brilliant yellow hues.
Looking south, I noticed the purplish “eagle” above the A&W and pointed my camera toward it. It dominated the upper right portion of the viewing screen, dwarfing everything else in the image.
That’s when I realized there just might be a message in that magnificent moment for the editor of the Cochrane Eagle, publisher of my columns.
After four years as editor of this newspaper, Derek Clouthier is moving on to new horizons after this week’s issue goes to press.
During his time with the Eagle Derek has been a delight to work with. He has tolerated my extensive use of italicized and boldfaced type in my text, as well as my suggestions for columnar layout in the print edition. He has even allowed me to come up with my own titles for my columns each week, something most unusual in the business.
I’m told he’ll be the new editor of the western Canada edition of a popular magazine about trucks. And knowing how he groans every time I commit a pun in his presence, I just can’t resist sending him on his way with a few more:
Derek, as you get behind the wheel for the next stretch of your journalistic journey, may your articles, like good tires, be characterized by teeth and traction. And in the spirit of that sunset eagle, may you continue to deliver truth, goodness and beauty to many. We will miss you.
© 2015 Warren Harbeck
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