[Leica] A 2014 year wrap-up

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (Ted Grant)]

As 2014 slowly shuts down. A reminisce? 

Well I was going to complain about the aches and pains of supposedly
growing, I was going to say  "OLD!" But that's a word for "OLD PEOPLE!"
Usually those who have no young thoughts, nor young of heart! Hell many of
them were old at 14 and never got over it! :-(
 
However we, many of the crew, are young of heart and thought. Still get the
aches and pains, WHY? Well in many cases derived from our youthful
travelling through a time capsule capturing magical moments of the folks of
the world. Or some other youthful, but crazy things we did because we were
young enjoying every moment... sometimes in a bit of a, shall we say?
Reckless dare devil fashion, led not by brain power. But "Why not? Lets do
it!:-)  What the hell?" :-) A wonderful attitude! Although it can.... get
you killed! :-) 
 
And there's nothing these days worse than a Monday when you awake thinking
it's Saturday and the weekend to do nothing! As for photographers "working?"
That word isn't in our vocabulary! Work is moving concrete blocks! Not what
we did and do, although in a slower motion kind of way these days, "making
happy snaps!" And people were pleased to pay for our youthful efforts!!" :-)
 
But when I'm in a state of aches, pains, Tylenol and pain killers of sorts I
don't think bad and say... "Damn you were stupid and not careful and you
shouldn't have done the following:  
 
1/Driven Stock cars and had those crashes!
2/Driven Sprint cars and had those crashes!
3/Had those two icy road crashes and roll over's in the winter!
4/The helicopter ride, cabin filled with smoke dropping like a fast falling
brick to the arctic ice at 50 below zero!!
5/Thrown out of the speed boat as the last image of the assignment
"CLICKED!".
6/Being hit by three football defensemen on the sideline at the same time
with the ball carrier!
7/The two ski equipped airplane crash landings on the arctic ice in two
days.
8/Hit by a flying wheel off a stock car while shooting from the infield.
9/The not perfect landing on my first and only solo parachute jump at 65
years! 
 
And there's probably a couple more things in there all in the name of being
a photojournalist! :-) OR LOVABLY CRAZY! :-)
 
But you know what? I wouldn't change any of it for one second! Other than
trying to be home when my children and dear wife Irene had birthdays or
special events or "other growing-up things when I should have been there."
:-(
 
And Tina? Apart from us both being photographers? We have one other thing in
common. We never smoked! My tiny mother gave me an option I never
challenged.... "If you smoke like your father I will kill you!" Seemed a
reasonable reason not to smoke. So I never did. :-)
Some days it... "the body" some place or other hurts and aches like the
devil. Then I think about my incredible life and say to myself about the
aches and pains! "GET OVER IT!" They're just the trophies of a great life!
:-) 

And as this year 2014 draws to a close I wish the LUG CREW and your families
a wonderful New Year 2015 with a million great photo exposures with your
Leica's! OR? Whatever? ;-)

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015

ted, Dr. ted, Uncle ted.... whatever?   :-)