EOL - Canon Rebel's last picture

Rebel's last view

Yesterday, June 12, 2012 the chickens were 3 weeks old and went into a small outdoor run for the first time. I was there with my flip and my camera, a Canon EOS digital Rebel. I have used it a lot since I got it in the spring of 2004. Lately I had noticed a few glitches and intermittent oddities and was thinking it might be due for a cleaning or checkup. Anyway - I was taking pictures of the chicks and then, without warning - no image in the viewer - you know how you check after taking a picture to see how it might have turned out. Nothing I could do - there was just darkness.
Everything seemed to be working except the shudder was not opening on "click".

Today I called the Canon customer service and spoke with a very nice man. And after listening and asking  about the camera, he says -> this camera is EOL. It is the original Rebel which came out in 2003. - Me ->  EOL? I don't know what you mean ---- Rep: End Of Life. It went EOL at the end of 2010 - what this means is that they will not be able to get any parts and the repair department will not even look at the camera, no matter what might be wrong with it - however simple or complicated. He then offered me the Canon loyalty option ....
I did ask a few more times, just in case - but no - it is EOL.
So ...a little shock for someone who grew up in a country at during a time appliances lasted a lifetime ...certainly had more than  7 years of accepted lifespan. Incredulous - they won't even look at it. My canon rebel is EOL.

It has served me well, it recorded literally tens of thousands of images and you are looking at the view it last saw - it's last imprint, before - for all practical purposes - before it died.
It spent it's life at a school - it saw a lot - though not a lot of far away landscapes.

There was no anger, just some trying this or that and the phone call, and gratitude - and  -  makes you wonder how alive "things" might be. Who are we to say some things are dead and some are alive. 
This camera was needed where it was used and it did well.
I will probably send it back to them as part of the canon loyalty program.

Thank you little Rebel - and your pictures were and are appreciated, some even made it into books and book covers.

There is something about the impermanence and uniqueness of every single thing and being that is amazing, touching - mind blowing - if you  really let it sink in. From that  place, unkindness is impossible - if only I were able to stay here longer and more often.