True mankind....

In times of crisis most people start to wonder what's happened to mankind? Why do these tragic events occur? Sometimes it seems never ending. The news sensationalizes it and encourages fear....almost sensationalizing the person who victimized everyone. Does anyone remember just one name of the kids from the Newtown shooting? There were 26 of them...and one shooter...how many people remember the shooters name? In Colorado, a man killed 12 and injured 58...can you name one of the people that was watching the movie??? Or do you just remember the shooters name and picture his bright orange hair and wide mugs shot eyes? The media focuses so much on the person that commits the crime and does not honor the people that died...or the people that saved or helped so many!

Those tragic events are so senseless and my heart aches for all that are affected. Its not just the people that were injured...the people that responded, the passerby's, the innocent people that happened to be there and the families of the injured and the victims that did not make it. All those people are affected as well. Their lives will never be the same....something as tragic as that...changes you!

I look at these events and do not wonder about mankind...I can see it. Only one person committed the crimes...and hundreds of people gather together to help! I watched the video right as the blast occurred at the Boston Marathon today. Within seconds, there were dozens of people running towards the victims to come to their aid. They could have been in harms way themselves....but no one seemed to even consider that at the time. True human nature came out...people helping people...simply because it was the right thing to do. They would not get a bonus pay at the end of the day...they would not get an award...you may not hear a thank you...they may never see the person they saved again and some of them were not first responders, but they did it because its what you do when someone needs you! I watched a group of men pull apart a fence to get to the injured....people running to get supplies...a woman carrying another woman on her back...a man wrapping a small child in his  arms to get him to help...people providing comfort to others.

There was a tragic event today...but I have not lost hope in mankind...I saw so much sadness and so much kindness at the same time! Just like with the Newtown shooting, Colorado shooting and 9/11...so many people were hero's...jumping in and helping others, not because they have to...but because their heart lead them too! That gives me hope for our future!

The evolution of the photo trip

Our first photo trip was so simple...but you would have thought that they unleashed two 13 year old girls that saw a shopping mall for the first time. We spent hours running around an almond orchard taking pictures of flowers and bees...barns and houses. Something was opened up in my soul...I found a friend that shared my passion in life.....awe...so perfect! I had already known Marcia for many years...but did not start our close friendship until seven years ago.

We still talk about the things that we would flip out about and get so excited to take pictures of in the beginning....we would see a windmill....cow...horse....weed flower...and literally stop traffic to get a picture of it. We were excited to just get out of the house for a few hours to get pictures of anything. Little did we know that those small experiences would build a life long friendship and make our photo trips about so much more than just a friend and a camera.

We have seen so many places, met incredible people with awesome stories, watched more sunrises and sunsets than I can count, sang songs on the top of our lungs, we created a "name" for ourselves and a move to go with it, and shared some of the best and most difficult life situations along the way.

I think of all the cool things we have experienced. We search out and find every covered bridge in the state. We have driven on Highway 1 from Oregon to Mexico. We have been to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe more times than I can count and have explored so much! We have driven and had adventures in almost all of the major places in California. We have explored dirt roads to no where...just in case there was something cool at the end. We have driven our rental cars in ways that would shame a demolition derby....don't worry, we get the insurance. We have explored all of San Francisco...even finding the "real Lombard" street. We saw "the end of the earth" or at least that's what it looked like to us.

Now our photo trips are less about photo taking and more about singing in the car...dancing like no one is looking....eating really good food in a hole in the wall place....talking to people in a small town while sipping coffee....antique shopping...did I say eating???? I could go on a photo trip now and not even bring my camera....and it would be the best trip ever!

Friday we leave for our next photo trip...off to table top mountain for some wildflower pictures. The funny part about it is...all Marcia and I have talked about is being able to spend time with my cousins (and their dogs) ;) where will we eat....oh and we must get some Dutch brothers coffee! Don't get me wrong...I will bring my camera and take a 1000 pics....but I love how our photo trips have evolved and grown....and we have too!