AA+ credit rating.

If you follow the economy, or have taken notice the stock market has lost a substantial amount of value over the past week, you likely know the U.S. was downgraded by Standard & Poor’s credit rating from AAA to AA+. In other words, we have lost part of our sterling image.

Or have we?

My daughter came home last night from more than 40 days of living in Rwanda; if you know anything about the country, it’s located in the Northeastern part of Africa.  You will quickly learn when you are there that we have it very good here in the U.S. More important, from an investment standpoint, there is no other country like the one we live in that has the standard of living, the technologically savvy mind, like we have. Sure there are other countries that do not have the financial problems we have at this time, but I assure you, even though they may not like us at times, they love what we bring to their culture, lives, and world. They just don’t always realize it.

If you follow the stock market, you know we have really taken it hard. But there is a plus side…so has oil. So if you can ward off the concern of losing a ton in the market, gas prices should be going down soon. Not enough of course and certainly not as fast as they go up, but still downward. I will feel better when I fill up. Sort of.

Back to my daughter. Now, I am not making this up so I don’t want you to think I am---but she said “I am a changed person when it comes to wasting electricity and water.” She said there were times when they carried their own water and bathed with a bucket. The Kohler toilet? That was a hole in the ground. Makes you appreciate a lousy gas station doesn’t it?

So give us the AA+ credit rating, we will demonstrate our ability to rise up from a low point in our history and assure the rest of the world that we have the strongest economy, the most vibrant look to the future, and what it takes to bring new technology and a better life to the rest of the world. So to the other 16 countries which hold a AAA rating---hold the elevator, we’re going to be back on soon.

The photo above is what America stands for…”Liberty.” We have always looked to the future, not away from it; frankly, I think we have learned again how we need to be the ones to lead and not be lead. We will be back where we belong soon---for now, it looks like we didn’t get straight A’s this semester---but no one likes a bragger any way!

Thanks for stopping by.

Memories.

We all have them---they just come about for different situations and reasons.  For some it has to do with wonderful times, others painful moments, and for many a combination of both. Whatever it might be, capturing a moment is something that makes us feel complete.

Yesterday, as I was walking out of one of our local grocery stores, a woman sat outside the door asking customers “if they would donate to Alzheimer’s research.?” Whereas many passed by, and others gave change, I think we all took one thing away from the experience--- we said in our silent voices, “Please don’t let me have this horrific disease.”

Of what I recall, and I would have to travel back in time, my grandparents on my Mother’s side had Alzheimer’s disease. Back then there was an all-inclusive belief that it could mean hardening of the arteries, old age, and/or a bunch of other reasons for forgetfulness and repetitive questions. Questions such as…”Where are you from? Who are you? How is so and so?” All of which you answered  every time because you didn’t want to hurt their feelings and you prayed they would understand.

Now my father in law has been stricken with this disease. He is still in the early stages, but he is bravely moving forward and is doing everything he can to carry on with a normal life. He is not the first in his family to have the disease. What’s interesting, and it cannot be confirmed, is they suspect that chemicals being sprayed in the area where he grew up in Southern Mississippi may be a contributor to the disease. Several of his living family members also have it---creating either a greater reason for it being hereditary, environmental or both. One thing is for sure, in the end, the memories fade, the focus dims, and life in many respects changes dramatically.

We saw this with my grandparents. I sincerely hope we don’t experience this with my Father-in-law. He is a very bright, intelligent and inquisitive man who knows a lot about a lot of things. In other words, he could kick butt in Trivial Pursuit.

The photo above is the ultimate memory; the photograph you have no idea will be important until it becomes important. The gentleman in the photo was a neighbor of ours; he was kind, gentle, and always said "Hello" when I walked by. I didn't know him except to say hello---I wish I knew him better.  One morning an ambulance was in front of the house just 3 doors down; he had passed away. He is missed in the neighborhood.

Thanks for stopping by.

BFF.

Sometimes you just feel comfortable knowing someone who has your back. It could be someone who has recently come into your life, or someone you have known for many years---but whatever the length of time, somehow, someway, you will be friends forever. Or as my daughters like to say, “a BFF.”

I would like to say I have many really close friends, but I don’t. I think for me, and I assume for others, you can only stretch yourself so far. Carving time out of your busy world is not always easy; so there are only so many friends who you can trust and feel so comfortable with---that you spend more than a passing moment talking to when it really counts. I know of probably 3 people, maybe 4 people, who fall into this classification of friendship.

There is one friend of mine who I have written about before in “Snap.Shot.” who I completely trust with my comments, thoughts and perspective on trivial and/or important matters. He means a lot to me, and I suspect vice versa. He is the one person I can honestly say can finish a sentence from a previous conversation that may have taken place months earlier. It’s pretty cool, but not common amongst my friends. 

I know of some people who love to have as many friends as possible; they are very personable and even though it would be nice to be in their circle, I don’t find it to be a comfortable fit. They, as I would say, are on the outside of my circle but still someone good to have a casual chat with when you see them. In other words, I don’t think we would go out of our way for each other to hang.

What’s really amazing to me is when you see your children begin to bond with other kids their age. What started out as playing next to one another and stealing (excuse me borrowing) one another’s toys, turns into a relationship that lasts for years if not for decades. It’s too early to tell of course, because 2 of my children have yet to hit a decade.

Probably my favorite moments are when kids say the nicest things to one another such as… “I hate you, you are mean to me, I want to leave and never see you again.” Then, 5 or so minutes later, the bond is back; when you ask “if they got over what their being mad at one another?” they give you a look of what are you talking about?

The photo above is a perfect example. My daughter Sophie and her BFF Ella, love each other and have for the short time they have been here; they now need both hands for calculating their age. What you don’t know is moments before this picture was taken, “she was being mean and she was not playing well and I want to go home and I don’t like her” and then 2 minutes later---BFF’s once more.

Thanks for stopping by.

Someone has to do it.

Throughout the years I am sure we have all had jobs that were less than enjoyable. If this has never happened to you consider yourself lucky or you need to give it a try to learn what you do not want to do in life.

When I was 15 years old I worked at a local bagel bakery. Waking up in the middle of the night, okay it was 5 AM on a Saturday, but for me that was the middle of the night. I mean, who gets up at that ridiculous hour? I learned, that I did---for $1.65 per hour. (I was living high on the hog.) I really didn’t mind the job, it was just hot during the summer and it totally disrupted my formerly treasured Friday nights.

However, as bad as this one seemed, I was “fortunate” to work at the business where my father worked. The difference, and this is completely understandable, he was an executive and I was not. Working at the company provided me with very “needed” funds; but there did come a time when I wondered how badly I really needed these funds. It turns out one of the summers before the company moved to a different location, it needed some “spiffing up.” Spiffing meant painting it. Not the walls, but painting the boiler (who really cares what a boiler looks like anyway?) and probably 500 wooden boxes that held papers, files and other supplies.  If there was one benefit, the boxes were painted in bright colors however the boiler was steel grey.

What did this teach me?

That an education is probably the most valuable and necessary thing you can do in life. Without it, you paint boxes and boilers.

But with really lousy jobs come really cool ones. I have been fortunate to have spent my entire career in the world of advertising and marketing. Sure, there have been difficult times, but the people I have met, and how they have challenged me. intellectually cannot be measured. It’s been great. Now I am involved in probably one of the most fun areas of marketing out there at this time; we are involved in what is called “non-traditional/experiential marketing.” Simply, we work with clients in making sure people (consumers) know and understand what their products, services and “voice in the marketplace” are all about, and how they fit into the lives of Mom’s, Dad’s, kids and everyone in between. That is very topline.

But we all can’t have the job at times that suits us to a tee---we have to find it. One thing I have learned, and many have confirmed it, is when you have the opportunity to do what you truly love, it’s not work…it’s a passion you are paid for. For me, it’s photography.  This fall, we are going to be very busy. In addition to doing what I love (my real job) we are going to be photographing a few thousand football players and cheerleaders. I am very lucky.

The photo above is a task I doubt many of us would want to do, but as they say “someone has to do it.” But if this isn’t for you, take a look around, make sure what you are doing is fulfilling the inner you…you will know at that point the difference as soon as you smile and say, “I am going to work and can’t wait.”

Thanks for stopping by.

Two steps from the big time.

We all dream of the big time. For some it’s being a star athlete, inventor, or movie star…and then for millions of others they are sure they have what it takes to be the next “American Idol”, “The Voice”, or winner of “America’s Got Talent.” We all know the road is long, and does not always have the outcome we were sure it would have, once we go there.

What I love most is when parents have the opposite feelings that many other parents have when commenting about their children. Of course they are proud and love them, but they are also realists. They know the likelihood of their son or daughter being the next Olympian, rock star, or screen idol is remote---yet they still provide the confidence their kids thrive on. Just with realistic expectations. To me, and I know many people who are like this, they are great parents. Am I like this? Not always.

Actually I believe my children have some truly remarkable talents; it’s just that these talents may not be marketable or appreciated outside of our family circle. But I do know they stand out from the rest of the pack.  One of my daughters has been out of the country for several weeks; when she comes home, she will have changed.  I am sure of it. She has learned what she has here in the U.S. is something to appreciate and to be proud of---I can’t wait to hear her stories. These weeks away from home have not only opened her eyes but also opened her heart for other people.

Another one of my daughters has guts; she is not afraid of much and when she sets her mind to it, she succeeds.  And yet another one of my daughters is brilliant---not confined to being just book smart, but aware of what life is about; she is still a little naïve at times (which is refreshing), but ahead of the game in many respects.  She doesn’t know I feel this way about her no matter how many times I have told her, so please don’t let on that I said anything.

Then there are 2 more daughters who have learned from their older sisters---they are inquisitive and have excelled at wrapping my wife and I around their fingers. Even though they are somewhat spoiled, I see the future as being very bright. By the way, that’s bragging. Of course the last one is my son---he has talents that are indescribable, but let me try. He is one of the few Jewish, white rappers I know of who is also a journalist.  Whew what a mouthful. He is a great kid---and solidly on his own. YES!!!

So will these traits make them famous? I doubt it. But in the eyes of “their” parents, they are world famous; they really don’t have to worry about being on the big stage, they stand on one that’s a good fit for who they are.

The photo above was taken at the annual July 4^th parade in our hometown. What I like about this photo is the confidence this guy has; even though he doesn’t have a microphone in his hand (he has a tambourine actually) he is ready for the big stage. In some ways it’s a start, as he prepares for the next step of his musical career; however on the other hand, being on a hay wagon with a John Deere tractor pulling you, along usually means you still have a way to go before you play the big arenas.

Thanks for stopping by.

America.

For many of you reader(s) who stop by for a visit to read, “Snap. Shot.” you may have noticed I can be hokey at times. Whether it’s writing about life’s moments that helped mold who I am today or life as I remember it growing up in the suburbs of St. Louis---I was a pretty simple kid and not a lot has changed since those days.

When it comes to reflecting Middle America, I think I fit the description; but nobody,  tells the story better than one of my favorite artists (actually an illustrator) Norman Rockwell. For me, he depicted American culture and all we stand for; from Thanksgiving dinner, to holding hands with the person you love, to the fear of going to the doctor---he got it, and delivered it.

When I was younger, much younger, I used to paint. For me it was relaxing, a challenge, and it provided blank walls with something to place on them. I was not very good, but I did surprise myself at times how someone who could not draw a straight line could actually paint.  Those days are behind me now as photography is faster and allows me to take more photos than I could paint in 20 lifetimes---and does not require drawing a straight line.

But speed was not a problem for Mr. Rockwell, he painted and he was relatively fast at doing it. I don’t know how he could be that good and still capture the feelings and images of America. He was incredible and his legacy lives on.

           About 30 years ago I visited a client in Indianapolis by the name of Curtis

           Publishing Company; many of you might have little or no idea what this company

           Produced but when they were in their hay day, they were huge. They published the Saturday Evening

           Post Magazine---they were one of the big 3 magazines. There was Life, Look and The Post. Today only

           the Saturday Evening Post survives but is no longer owned by the company.

When I was at the Curtis Publishing Company I could not help but notice the number of Norman Rockwell paintings on the wall. These were not your cheesy posters, these were originals; while I was there I learned that many of the originals (300 in all) were found behind cabinets and other areas of the building because they had so many of them without enough wall space. I was flabbergasted. I even asked if they ever sold them? They laughed and said, “No.”  Today as I think back on that day I still cannot believe I was that close to paintings that were created by the ultimate American artist.

The photo above was taken at our local swimming pool. Although not a pond or  swimming hole, this photo of a boy jumping off the high dive reminds me of the simple times I loved back then and still love so much today. Although I no longer paint, and take a lot of pictures instead, what they have in common is capturing a memory----something I try to do when ever hear the shutter close.

Thanks for stopping by.

Loss.

About 2 years ago, my wife and kids went on a nighttime exploration down by a lake nearby. A friend was in town and they thought it would be fun to venture out with flashlights and see what lurked once the sun had retreated to the other side of the globe.

What they found was a telling tribute that all these years had been undiscovered by us no matter how many times we had passed it.

Along the “banks” of Lake Ellyn are tributes to lost ones; most I would assume are friends or family members---perhaps a pet or two are included. I really don’t’ know for sure. But there is one tribute that stands out amongst them; it’s in honor of Jennifer Mills, a young woman who left us way too early in her life. Judging by the listed years she was 18.

A small bush and bench are all that you see when you approach the tribute. Once there you see it come to life with fairies, pixies and other remembrances of a life cut way too short. Even though I tried to learn more about Jennifer, there was little to be found.

Until.

I was at a Milwaukee Bucks basketball game this past March and received an e-mail from a young man who knew Jennifer. He had somehow found a blog I had written a while back---after reading it he contacted me. He said he “Googles” Jennifer’s name several times a year. He wrote me and asked where the dedication was located as he had been searching for it  since he learned of her passing several years ago. He had tried to contact her parents but they were not giving any information on her passing. I have no idea, and I was not going to find out why, as this is obviously something very painful for them.

Needless to say I was shocked when I received this e-mail nearly 3 months after it had been written. What I learned was not a lot more, but apparently she had died after graduating from our local high school, and the parents felt a tribute was the best way to preserve her memories. I was told, “Jen was a very nice girl, and she was someone who got along with people and had a lot of friends.” There was little more he shared except asking where the tribute was located? I described it as it is relatively easy to find if you know where to look. (He found it.)

Life can be very interesting; you go about thinking everything is on cruise control and in a matter of a split second the brakes have been slammed and you skid to a stop. If anything, this makes you stop what you are doing and realize you need to appreciate all life has to offer.

The photo above was taken Sunday at a photo shoot down by the lake. I was talking to the high school senior I was photographing about this tribute. I asked, “Would you like to see it?” She said, “Of course.” We both were quiet as we stood absorbing Jennifer’s tribute. With a letter “J” in the grasp of this lone bear---for me it symbolizes the need to hold on tight to the ones you love because you never know when you will be letting go.

Thanks for stopping by.