To those who have served…

Jon Larson Family 0 Comments

I open the packed refrigerator and complain because there’s nothing to eat. My family’s three cars have a little too much patina. There are 150 channels to choose from, and yet there’s nothing good on TV tonight. I go to bed and my pillow is a little too lumpy.

I suffer from too much. A byproduct from a generation that sacrifice was a way of life and by it, allowed us to live in prosperity. Abundance brings with it a virus called ingratitude, and I have suffered from bouts of this affliction as well. How can you relate to people and a lifestyle that you have never experienced? Every time period has had its givers and takers, and I would venture to guess that this generation has more takers than givers. We are seeing the death of an era. The WWII generation is in its final days and when they’re gone, we’ll have lost the wisdom that goes with them.

I have not served in the military, nor have I made a sacrifice for my country. I am a person who has lived in the aura of the blood that was shed so that we’d be able to live in freedom. The men and women who’ve given up their down pillows and warm beds for sleepless nights, uncertainty, and frazzled nerves are the true heroes that we are to admire.

Today, we have a new group of soldiers that are willing to put their lives on the line to hold back the evil that roams the earth. We have too many reasons to remain complacent, but they do it. To voluntarily give up the lap of luxury, to serve is truly remarkable. I thank God for all of those who have sworn this oath to protect this country:

I, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

I cannot adequately express my gratitude to all those who have sacrificed for this country. I am awed and envious. As best as I try to relate, I am not in the family of soldiers. My perspective is that of an outsider. But, you have given all of us a gift. A gift of liberty and freedom. Some may squander it, and some may relish it. At times, I live close to both of these truths.

Even though saluting is reserved to those within the “family”, I stand with you and I salute you. I am grateful beyond words. From one of us to all of you… thank you.

05
Nov 10

Absence makes the Camera grow Fonder

Jon Larson Family 0 Comments

For my daughter Allison’s birthday in March, I decided to give her my Nikon D40x camera and lens kit as a gift. She had been dabbling in photography for a while with her point-and-shoot, so I thought it would be nice to see if she was serious about this picture taking thing. She has tried on various “hobbies” and nothing has seemed to stick. The tributary of this was that I would then be able to upgrade to a new camera – not that I had an ulterior motive! So my quest began.

My first choice for a camera replacement was a Nikon D90, mainly because of its video capabilities. I figured I would be able to save the money and make the purchase. The camera had been out for a couple of years, so I decided to check and see if there were any new cameras poised to be released. I checked with Nikon Rumors, a website that is dedicated to just such a venture since Nikon (or any other camera manufacturer for that matter) does not give any indication when it may be releasing new gear.

Well, lo and behold, in July, they stated that there was a camera coming out that would be a replacement for the D90. Hmm, now what do I do? It would be coming out in the fall. No name yet, no definitive specs, so I decided to wait. Why invest into a discontinued item? Finally, in August, they announced the name, the D7000. More information kept trickling in and I was getting more and more excited about this new camera. I still didn’t know what the price would be, but it would be available in September – October. It finally showed up on Amazon’s website on September 15th, and I placed my order for the body only. If it shipped soon, I would still be able to take some nice fall pictures. Well, here we are in November and still no clue as to when the camera might ship.

In all this talking about my dilemma, one important element has been glossed over. What about Allison and her photography experiment? Well, it stuck. She has fallen in love with photography and has even purchased a new lens (35mm f/1.8). She has taken thousands of pictures and has even has taken some senior pictures for her friends. She has a natural eye for taking unique shots. I have seen her blossom in more than just photography since then. She has found something that truly makes her happy and expresses her creative side.

It’s been eight months without a camera and I don’t think I have been without a camera for that long in my entire adult life. My love for photography has just grown during this absence and I get to see that love manifest in Allison’s photography. What has been my loss has been her gain and I could not be happier!