Promises to Keep

They are ONLY the buds of wild plum blossoms, which are seemingly everywhere in this part of the state right now. Still, it was the surprise of finding them where I did in a relatively shaded spot and the the quality of the light that seemed to spotlight various branches, that stopped me in my tracks.

 

A NOTE TO MY FELLOW PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Last week a woman stopped along a Nebraska road outside a small town to take a photograph of a tree. Sounds familiar, yes? Three men in a pickup truck pulled up behind her car. The men assaulted the woman and locked her, naked, in her trunk. She was found three days later by men chopping wood nearby who heard her screaming and kicking the car from inside the trunk.

I watched her last night as she told her story to a television crew and it has certainly given me food for thought. How many times have I wandered off alone, in my own little world, just me and my camera, mostly unaware of the world around me?!? How many times have I thought such things would never happen here?

I've teamed this message with this photo as the photo was taken in secluded spot, along abandoned railroad tracks - and just a short distance from a makeshift campsite obviously used by vagrants. It is the second such shelter that we have come across while wandering in an area just outside my beloved wetlands.

I am not easily spooked but let's be honest: I am a female carrying what may appear to be a valuable camera setup but with no other means of defense in sight (I never carry a tripod if I can help it!). Easy prey, no?

Food for thought at least. Read the story here.

Done