5 pictures I wish I would have taken but didn't

1) During the seasons of the year various animals wander in my back yard. I have pictures of geese, rabbits, squirrels, moose, and chickadees. Blending into the terrain on a fall day is a wandering quail. By the time I get my camera and back to that spot, it’s gone.

2) A hot January day at the Animal Kingdom Park in Florida. We decided to ride the Kali river rapids. It is a water ride on a round raft that rotates and plunges down the river. If you are lucky, you get only a little wet. I wish I could have a picture of the precious looks on the riders faces as the water comes pouring down over them. Another drenched passenger who got their money’s worth.

3) Driving up the Alaskan highway in May with the dog in the back seat. There were signs posted warnings of animals on the road. In the distance you can see there are Bison grazing on the hill side. As we slow down to take pictures, the Bison hiding alongside the road jumps up to check out the tourists. Just then the dog starts barking, her hair standing straight up on her back. I don’t know if she was scared or protecting us…probably scared.

4) Beat-up old cars are called hoopties. Alaska has a lot of these cars. You know the car is worn out when it has more dents than a golf ball and bungee cords hold the hood and trunk closed. A two door pick-up truck is driving down the road with the original owner at the wheel. The paint has disappeared rendering the car back to the original gray under coat color. There is a rope stretching from the front bumper to the back bumper. I wonder if they made seat belts back then.

5) A gentle breeze blowing in the warm evening air while we patiently wait for the fireworks to start. Fireworks are never as good on television as in person. The colors are more vibrant and the sound more realistic. Red, green, and blue bursts of fireworks. White fireworks making a waterfall that looks like Niagara. Then you see an upside down smiley face. It doesn’t matter that it’s upside down :)