I was nearly home tonight, taking one of the last turns, when I saw black smoke rising through the trees. Sure hope some idiot didn't start a forest fire - our house isn't too far from here! Wait, it couldn't be a brushfire, that makes a whitish-gray smoke.
An old man almost rear-ended me taking that last turn; too caught up in watching the flames dash higher. What the he - that's somebody's car! Huh? How did the volunteer fire department get here already? POW!! A tire blew up, then another! How can that guy breath in all those acrid fumes, he's not even wearing a respirator?!?! Well, at least they have it under control... I sure hope no one was inside! Oh God, what if someone's child was in there? Lord, I couldn't imagine the pain of losing one of my precious daughters.
"Hi Ray," I said, "was anyone hurt?". "Nah, just a car somebody set on fire." The neighbor I'd known for over 25 years was there, and he was the one who called the fire department. Apparently, the car had broken down on this back-country road, leaving the young couple stranded. Thankfully, there children weren't with them today! The young couple (the Harden's, I'm told) is here now... turns out they had just walked up the road to use someone's phone. Of course they're upset, but thankful no one was injured. They just can't believe their car is totally gone - and they didn't have insurance. How will they get around now?
Too bad I didn't have my camera today. I mean, there is no way anyone could mistake my images for those of a good photojournalist. But it might have meant something, to keep those memories, to capture the emotions, and be able to keep them somewhere besides in my mind. I still can't justify keeping all that expensive DSLR gear with me everyday, while attending my real job. But maybe I should keep that ol' P&S with me from now on, just in case...
Goodnight everyone, and keep your families close to you.
Message edited by author 2006-11-09 20:09:53. |
