Giving Up Would Be Too Easy

So a few months ago I was approached about taking a group photo of a Troop who served in the Korean War. I'll admit...I was nervous.

I got an awesome quote from a friend of mine who works at a local print shop (back in january) to do the printing. There wasn't much to do till the day comes soooooo....... So finally the day comes...I switch my days off of work to make things possible (props to NPD). I wake up at 10 am...stir around...make plans to run out to my parents place to pick up my tripod...I touch base with J. Parr after his Seattle trip and tell him about my plans for the day...he graciously offers his tripod, essentially saving me a trip to the country, AWESOME. So I stop by his home and chat for a minute. I head back to my apt and get online...pay some bills...listen to Elliot Smith nonstop, make a sandwich...(notice how the time flies)...I look at my watch and it's 430! i have to be there taking the photos in one hour...I get up from the desk, shower, shave and shine my shoes, load the car with my gear and i'm on the road by 445. I talk to my mom while in transit...she's worried for me and hopes all goes well. I tell her to chill, everything will be fine...nothing to sweat. I get there...set up...chit chat...nerves....have a shot of whiskey...
SNAP SNAP SNAP!!!!! all the pics are done! and I'm out.




I stop on the way home for some sushi to go and finally settle to watch a television show called Wonder Showzen with Brant. From there I start to edit the photos...i have to pic 2 out of 17. one of the men...and one of their respective wives. I panic and call my friend who works at the printshop 3 or 4 times asking questions about uploading the photos to them at work... they assure me it's fine... sent!

So I wake up and get ready for work...print up some more resume's, print up a sales receipt.
My friend said he would call when he got to work at 10am ....no call at 1010, so i leave in a dash because i said i would have them delivered by 11am. I stop for gas when he calls..."hey Ry, can you ummmmm resend those files?"

HOLY SHIT!!!

I'm almost out of gas...Late... hungry...nervous....now I'm scared. I say sure... so i turn around and haul ass home. get on the computer and the cd burning program won't open!!!!!...I want to throw the laptop through the wall but I stay calm. I call my friend back and clarify some specifics and he says " oh it's cool, that'll work, i'll start printing now". I almost die, it's 1045.
I leave my house again....stop for gas....go get the prints..... and hit 281 towards downtown to deliver them at La Quinta. I get stuck behind an damn Concrete TRUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not religous...but I look up and ask "dude, are you kidding me?" well, Buddha answered and the truck moved out of the way. I get there at 11:10. people are waiting for me in the forum.."The photographers here, THE PHOTOGRAPHER IS HERE!!!!" I rush to the room where everyone is and there they are...waiting for me a total of 61 War Veterans...waiting on ME! I pull out the photos and receive a bit of praise...they really really liked them. Some said it was the best group photo they have ever taken....I was really glad to hear that. PHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!

I establish the order... shake the hands ....get my check and I'm out the door.
It was fun being around them for the short time I had...you could really sense the respect they had for each other...I hope my generation is like that towards each other after 50 more years. We'll just have to see about that one.