The importance of photograghs.

  Through most of my life I rarely took photos of the things I did or of the people I had the pleasure to meet.  I was satisfied with the memories in my head.  The problem with this is that you can never really share those memories with other people as well as you could with photos.  Now there are exceptions.  Some people have a gift of word that can paint a more complete picture than any photo.  I'm not one of those people.

  It really wasn't until I was married to my beautiful wife that I began to really appreciate photos.  She has a natural eye and takes tons of photographs.  One of the things that she has shown me, is that its the everyday things that we cherish the most when we go through that pile of photographs.  Oh sure we all have those vacation photos that are fun, but we'll sit and talk, argue, and wonder over one photo of  grandpa feeding some cows.  It just has more significance to us.

  I've tried to be better about taking pictures, but sometimes I just forget to take my camera.  And I forever miss those moments that hold some significance for me.  This last weekend when  I went to Miles City for some training. I was able to join the Fire Department for a ride to put out a small bale fire that was part of a autumn display.  I spent that night picking the brains of the Fire Crew about EMS procedures and trying to soak up some of their experience.  I could see a dozen picture opportunities but I didn't take them.   The following day I went out with one of my friends from the Fire Department and spent the afternoon doing equipment checks and practicing search patterns with our dive equipment.  I took one picture.  I planned on taking more, but I kept getting sidetracked. 
 
  On Monday two of the Fire Crew came out and went hunting.  One of them was my dive partner and the other was one who tried to impart wisdom into my thick skull on Saturday night.  Both are really good guys.  We spent the day hunting and bagged two animals.  Again I didn't think to take pictures.  There is always tomorrow.

  Tomorrow has come and gone.  I received word this morning that my friend Tim McGlothlin, a Miles City Fire Fighter, and a good friend, died last night, Oct. 27, as a result from accident while riding a mountain bike on a trail that he has rode many times this summer.  I only have one photo of the last time we spent hanging out together, and that's a shame.  Its not even a good picture, but its what I have. 

Rest in Peace Tim,  we will miss you.  You lived a life that anyone would have been proud of.