Stories
Personal stories, memories, and reflections from a life well lived.
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A Long Story in a Small Box
When I opened the package from the seller, I saw the usual things — packing peanuts and bubble wrap. Nothing remarkable. Until I pulled the sleeve back. There it was. Yellowing paper. Someone’s handwriting. Nearly a hundred years old. I didn’t even try to read it at first. I was too busy wondering. Who wrote it? Was it a store clerk?Someone at Kodak filling an order?Was it the original owner? That handwriting made it personal. Not just another old camera — someone’s camera. And for a moment, I just stood there holding it, realizing I was touching something that had already lived a long life. The box doesn’t open like…
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Why I Chose to Shoot in Monochrome That Day
(This post continues a story from a photo I shared earlier.) There’s a song I’ve always liked called In Color by Jamey Johnson. He repeats the same line throughout the song, but it didn’t really hit me until I watched the video all the way through. Seeing those old photos in monochrome, and then watching the color slowly come in near the end, made the meaning land differently for me. “A picture’s worth a thousand words,But you can’t see what those shades of gray keep covered…You should’ve seen it in color.” That line came back to me when I took the photo of my wife holding our grandson. I had…
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Why I Started This Blog
I’ve spent a lot of years enjoying simple hobbies — working on engines, taking photos, and cooking food at cookouts. Somewhere along the way, I realized these were the moments I looked forward to most. They helped me slow down, stay busy, and appreciate the time I had. This blog started as a place to gather those moments in one spot. I’ve always liked learning by doing. In the garage, you figure things out by turning wrenches and making mistakes. With photography, you learn by paying attention and trying again. Cooking outdoors feels much the same — every cookout teaches you something, even when things don’t go exactly as planned.…
