Do you remember the family member, back in the day, who always had a movie camera stuck in your face?  Persistent and never satisfied with a smile and a snap from a still camera, this person wanted live action.  Saying, “I’m filming you, don’t just stand there do something!”   My Cousin Sylvia’s husband Charles was the one.  When the Bennett family visited us from California, Charles had his 8mm movie camera rolling.  He would film everybody and everything.  I actually saw him filming a brick wall on the side of our house.  He seemed fascinated so, I quietly stood there watching him filming bricks.  I was young and thought maybe there were no bricks in California.  Charles filmed family for hours, but I have never seen any of the footage he recorded during our childhood days. 

Some years later, my cousin Skip filled in his dad’s movie-making footsteps. Becoming ‘that guy’ with the camcorder.   When we moved to California in the early 1980’s, there was Skip and his camcorder, waiting for us.    We stood there smiling at him. In his booming voice, he told us he was filming and dang it, he wanted us to do something.   No matter the occasion, Skip had his camcorder rolling. A skilled interviewer, he asked his subjects the date, who they were, and where they were.  Never satisfied until he held you long enough to get good footage. Most of us tried to avoid Skip’s camcorder.   When we saw it, we would make a hasty exit the other way.

Skip has always been a techie.  Back then, he had electronics and computers before they were common in homes.  A visit to Skip and his wife Savill’s house was a learning experience filled with the latest in technology.  He introduced us to the “Little computer people” on his commodore 64. I thought it a bit strange watching this little person going about his daily routine. It was unnerving when it seemed to talk to me.  One of my best times with the Bennett’s was years later, on my visit back to California.  Sitting by the Koi pond, Skip and Savill built, and feeding fish named after NBA players was relaxing.  Savill cooked up a vegetarian holiday feast, and Skip put together a Wii bowl family tournament. We were loud and competitive, what a great day!  They now entertain themselves with their virtual reality games.  Skip says Savill beats him badly in bowling, virtually.

Savill was the first person I knew with an online business.  I admired the way she balanced running her home-based business and taking care of her family and home.  Her business SSCCgifts.com, selling personalized name prints, is still thriving today. She has expanded to selling crafts from her booth at the local Farmer’s market.  Skip also has a new hobby that he started during the 2020 quarantine.  He is a serious ‘Rock Hound,’ collecting rough rocks then smoothing and polishing them.

Working at Southern California Edison Company has become a tradition.  Skip’s grandfather and father both worked there.  His son currently works there. After 35 years of service, Skip retired from there. Now, Skip and Savill have more time to do the things they enjoy. Avid RV’ers since 1987, they look forward to more camping trips within the Thousand Trails system.  They both enjoy going on train rides.  They have ridden trains throughout the US, over rivers, and around mountains.  Through the red-woods when the big trees were being harvested and to the Grand Canyon. Their annual meet-up combined both camping and a train ride.  With fellow campers, sister Linda and her husband Jerry, they met in Colorado. They rode the train through Colorado to New Mexico. Skip says it was a great adventure and the scenery was beautiful.

Skip and Savill’s favorite thing in the world is time with family. Their adult children Charnesha and Charles, grandchildren Donavan, Jaiden, Jordan, and Joshua are where their hearts are.   Spending time with and spoiling the grandchildren is their top priority.  When with the grandchildren, Skip and Savill are their happiest. Skip says of all of the places he has been, his favorite is coming back home visiting his East Coast family that he loves dearly.

Now that he is retired, Skip has time to convert his film to digital.   He recently shared clips with family he had taken in 1982.  We were amazed and delighted to see and listen to ourselves from so long ago.  I was transfixed, watching myself.  I wanted to beg my younger self to slow down, talk to the camera a bit longer… but off I ran.  (Skip-a-doo, I should have listened to you!)

Much of the film taken by Skip’s father, Charles, on his 8mm movie camera was damaged. Skip has been working on what he was able to salvage.  He says he will start editing after he and Savill return from their upcoming camping trip.  Their wedding anniversary is May 8th.  They are getting a head start on celebrating 39 years of marriage with some time on the road in their motorhome.  Congratulations, you two. ❤️

Amanda

(Note:  There are companies that will convert old film to digital affordably.  It is a priceless family treasure to have and to share with younger generations. Be sure to copy and pass down family photographs too.)

Personal photographs property of Skip and Savill.

Cover Photo by Obregonia D. Toretto from Pexels. Thumbnail Photo by Skitterphoto from Pexels