Rambling thoughts……
How’s that for some openers! I know, weak! I’m in Orlando where Sherelene is attending a Diabetes meeting sand seminar. I planned to drive over to Tampa today and visit with the Kelby One crew, especially Pete Collins and R.C. Concepcion, but was really sick by the time I got to the hotel last night and am recovering slowly today. Not sure what I’ve got, stopped up head, coughing, feeling run down, I think I’m allergic to airports.
Topic ONE: I hate air travel. I actually like flying, I just hate dealing with the TSA, the ticket counters, the lines, waiting to get on the plane, getting off the plane, walking the 44 miles my gate always is from Baggage claim, to get my bags. Schlepping all this stuff to the rental car. Dealing with the rental car folks, finding the exit from the airport that gets you at least approximately going the right direction!!!!!!!! Sherelene said this morning I’m in “Grumpy Bill” mode. Afraid she is right!
Topic TWO: I love to drive!!!!!! My trip back in March to Peoria and then down Route 66 and then to Arches and then home, was as delight! Took my time, enjoyed being alone, stood in no lines, well once at a McDonald’s to get a cone! It was so much better than flying but, when I was finished it took two and half days to get home! You can’t win!!!!!
Topic THREE: Great people you meet along the way in life. John Oakley is great man, and a interesting man, and a man I admire immensely! He has dedicated himself to seeing that his granddaughter Ralphi Oakley gets to all the photo events she can! He drives Ralphi and her sister Nina to all our events and we really enjoy having them and having John! His father taught him about the ships messenger when he was a boy, when we saw this one and moved the lever at Black Dog Salvage and heard that thing bing, his eyes lit up. What that meant to me I could never describe! I wanted to buy it and have it shipped to him, oh if I were a wealthy man, the fun I would have giving gifts!!!!!
Topic FOUR: Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Why am I hanging around in Orlando while Sherelene attends meetings all day???? I have to honestly say that in 45 years of marriage to Sherelene I’ve never had enough time with her! I have travel from 250 to 125 days a year for much of our marriage. and it is being way from her that makes me realize how much I love her. I once had a dear friend that went from being dirt poor to being a multimillionaire. I asked him once what it was like to be able to travel anywhere he felt like going without regard for the money involved!! He shocked me with his answer. He told me that before his family business took off and made him and his family millions, they used to look forward to their one week vacation each year, planning, dreaming and anticipating it, once they could have anything they wanted the thrill of “anticipation” was gone. Maybe that is what makes Christmas, the Fourth of July and even weekends special, they are not “everyday” affairs. It’s good to be thankful for what we treasure and know it is a gift, and one, not to be squandered!
Topic FIVE: The value of friends. It is amazing to me how much I think about, pray for, and have great hope for my friends. I’m truly invested in Jim and Sue Haverstock, Jim Begley, Jack Graham, my brother-in-law Ron Oliver and all mine and Sherelene’s family members. I pray daily for Sue’s wrist, Jim’s long service to her, for Jim Begley as he settles into retirement, Jack’s detached retina and safety out on the road, Ron’s leg amputation and Diane’s taking care of him. The list goes on and on! God has blessed me with great people to love, care for, and pray for, what a privilege it is to stand in the gap for them!
Topic SIX: The great folks at Fujifilm! O.K. you knew that was coming but not for the reason you may think! Yes I’m madly in love with their X-System,the bodies and lenses which are incredible, but that is not why I love the company so much. Now I want to be very clear before I share this, that I still respect Nikon and have many friends there, but my relationship with Fuji has been far different. I shot Nikon for 44 years and waved the flag proudly for them for many years before I ever got a dime for my efforts, and never asked for a penny either!!! I am sure that thousands of shooters were influenced by my love for the Nikon system. Then I worked for Nikon as an NPS rep for the Southern U.S. for 11 years. In all that time, I was never asked to speak at a Nikon National Sales Meeting, never invited to visit the factories in Japan, or ever honored with the title of a Legend Behind The Lens. I have no hard feelings, but I am appreciative that Fuji has honored me with all three of those things, except their select group of pros is called the X-Photographers. I feel fortunate to be affiliated with Fuji, they certainly have been very nice to me!
Well, those are my rambling thoughts for today!
Blessings,
the pilgrim
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 21st, 2015 at 6:02 pm
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Bill, as always, I really enjoy your rambling thoughts. And praying you feel much better soon. Take care.
Thanks Rick, your prayers are working, better already!
Topic one: The problem is that we are both old enough to remember air travel when it was a treat and passengers were treated much better. Funny that Delta tells me as a passenger how much I am “valued” and then as a stockholder how many new ways they’ve found to screw passengers. Rental cars? I use Priceline to control costs and enhance predictability. But Avis no longer tries harder and Hertz takes forever to get you in the driver’s seat of higher mileage cars.
Topic two: I used to drive a lot. Now I fly places and then rent a car. So, my 5+ year old car has 44,000 miles on it vs. 50,000 a year.
Topic three: Right on, brother. Some photographers are real sticks in the mud. But I’ve met a lot of great people over the years, including some overstuffed gnome named Fortney. It’s kind of cool when you’re snoozing because you arrived early at the Ox and friends from Florida see you and make sure you don’t oversleep.
Topic four: Sometimes I think travel does help because I am not always around and thus less likely to get on my wife’s nerves and vice versa. But we both have our own interests and give each other the freedom to pursue them.
Topic five: The wealth of a man is measured by the number of things he loves and blesses and that he is loved and blessed by.
Topic six: Ever notice how perverse we photographers are? We shoot with the N-word, C-word, F-work, S-word, P-word and, of course, the Big-O! Maybe you need to rename your blog as “the X-factor!” 😀
As always you are one clever man! Well done!
“oh if I were a wealthy man, the fun I would have giving gifts!!!!!”
Bill, you are – I, like many others, check your blog everyday and find those gifts. Gifts that mean the most don’t always mean spending money. Thanks for the words of advice, strength and inspiration.
Thanks for sharing your “Rambling thoughts” – look forward them.
Thanks David, I feel the same about my every opportunity to see you and Kerry! Looking forward to the next opportunity!
Bill,
I hope you feel better soon! We’ve got some shooting to do next week!
Tom
You bet, I’ll be ready! Looking forward to seeing you!
Not sure this fits, other than maybe next item. Just ran across this article, and knowing your quest for the perfect burger, I was wondering how many of these you may have already found. http://www.businessinsider.com/best-burgers-in-america-2015-5
This sound like the ultimate road trip to me.
Love all you do!
Jim Erickson
Always great hear from you Jim! Interesting list, I’ve had about ten of his top fifty, like most New York writers he has been heavy on New York City and LA places. It was an enjoyable list, devoid of almost anything from fly over country, but most East Coast liberal eltests really don’t believe we are even out here!!! Thank God for “good ole country boys like you and me!” * The previous statement may not reflect the views of management……. That’s what the New York Times would have to say after my statement! Thanks for your note, I can’t stop laughing at myself!