Day 259 – Dave

The past few days have been full of hugs, tears, swapping stories, filling in puzzle pieces, laughing, and more.

Dave’s been working the Reno Air Races for years. One of the people who died in last year’s crash was one of his crew, Sharon Stewart, a wonderful woman who always had a smile on her face no matter how rough her day was going. My first day back (Thursday) I saw Dave taking a break so I sat beside him and we talked for about fifteen minutes about that day. His young charge sat close by, his eyes wide. Later that day, the first responders were honored at the opening ceremony and Dave saw me up there shooting and asked me if he could get a copy of the shot. I asked him if he had email. He did not. I promised him I’d print one for him.

Yesterday he brought me an apple fritter from the box of goodies he brings for his crew.

Today I popped my 50mm lens on my camera with the express purpose of catching as many people as I could. While Sweetie and I were working the gate at the far end of the box seats, Dave came by, smiling as always. Up went my camera to my eye, Dave flashed a peace symbol, and I got this shot.

I printed a copy of this for him too.

I have taken a lot of photos over the past few days, but need to get through one more day at the Reno Air Races, and then I’ll have time to go through them and get some posted.

Day 258 – Boy at the Air Races

Just a quickie. Today turned out to be a much longer day than we thought it would be, so I haven’t had but a few minutes to review my shots from the day. I really was taken by this little boy and luckily, I was able to snap this shot of him in the box seats with his grown-ups. (I also like what is written on the sign behind him)

Day 257 – Early Morning at the Reno Air Races

I’ll be at the 2012 Reno Air Races through Sunday, and while I’m taking a lot of photos, you probably won’t hear much from me. It’s pretty much a sunrise to sundown activity for the next few days.

Before the crowds come, the volunteers arrive and get things ready. This fellow is bringing a cooler to one of the box seats. I like how the lens flare frames his body.

As I wandered through the box seats, I snapped this box seat decoration. The guy who “owns” this box comes every year. For those of us who return, year after year, it is like a big family.

An Adventure Like No Other

I’ve been wanting to share this gallery for a couple of days. Last Friday night Sweetie and I headed out to Stead airport for the Reno Air Races Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. We’d not been back since the crash of September 16th and it’s been a rough nine months for those of us who were there. Still, being there, seeing our friends and sharing how we’d all been dealing with the “after,” was really nice. Really. But there was more to this evening than just food and friends.

When we all checked in at this table each volunteer received a raffle ticket.

People lined up for food . . .

And then the first and best prize was announced: A ride in a T-6. And not just any ride, but a fly-over the Reno Rodeo. That night. Right then. And guess who won? My husband! That he won this ride, this night, after all that he’d been through made it all the more sweet.

When they called the winning number I thought everyone at our table was going to lose their mind when we realized it was one of our own. Much screaming ensued. Sweetie had to head right out to the T-6 hangar for preflight prep, so I grabbed my camera and went with him. What follows are just a few of my photos, but I have a full gallery over at SmugMug. Check it out for a more coherent narrative.

First there was the “I promise I won’t sue if we crash” agreement.