Santa Parade, Paper Delivery, and a Few Assorted Thoughts
by Barry Bauer
I went downtown as usual last Friday night to take pictures of the Santa Parade. I established squatter’s rights in front of the Veterans Memorial facing the Courthouse where I usually stand hoping to get some good pictures. Taking pictures at night, especially with my equipment, isn’t the most desirable thing to do but I do it anyway.
I couldn’t help but notice a young lady with a camera rig that must have cost a fortune. Her camera was mounted on a tripod and had a lens that probably cost at least three times more than what my whole camera cost. It was bigger than a spotting scope! And the camera body was twice as big as mine. It was no doubt a digital SLR either made by Canon or even better, Nikon. One of the best lens makers in the business.
When her mounted flash unit went off the whole 300 block of N. Clinton Ave. lit up! I could feel the warmth from it.
Needless to say I was green with envy. If I stood in front of the Christmas tree right then before it was officially lit, nobody could find me.
When the parade started coming down Clinton Ave. I moved up closer to the intersection knowing that they usually turn right on Railroad St. heading east. It wasn’t long before the young lady with the enormous camera was setting up next to me. I had to ask the question that I knew my readers would want me to ask, “Did they sell that thing by the pound?”
She just smiled.
And then I asked, “Do you work for the State Journal?”
“No,” she replied.
“The Hoboken Press?”
“No, it’s just a hobby with me.”
Some hobby I thought. I’ll bet she isn’t married.
Anyway, she disappeared after leaping the snow bank in a single bound or two with camera, and tripod in hand and heading for the Gazebo presumably to take more pictures.
I never saw her again.
I wanted to do what she did but I had to pick an easier spot. I lost my leaping abilities years ago and I’d just be inviting trouble. At my age the biggest thing I fear in the winter is falling.
This was no doubt my worst year for taking pictures of the ceremony after the parade. I didn’t get my front row spot because of the snow banks and the lights were out in the Gazebo so Santa received the key to the City in the dark.
I guess I thought they’d move a few feet away to the Rotary Pavilion which was fully lit and nicely shoveled.
Santa may have night vision but my camera certainly doesn’t and I didn’t even have a reindeer named Rudolph to bail me out.
Maybe next year will be better. All things being normal, I’ll be there — trying again.
* * *
Do you see what I see?
I had to decide if this week’s edition of the local paper belonged to me or the City. After all, it’s on City property. I was reminded of that one time after getting a citation when trying to sell my mother-in-law’s almost new car. I wasn’t supposed to encroach on the City’s right of way even though I have to mow it which of course made me feel like part owner. I wasn’t building a shack there, just parking her car and trying to sell it.
My weekly paper keeps asking me to pay for their paper but because they can afford to deliver two copies a week, I don’t think they need my money. I’ve notified them about it before but that didn’t stop it.
Unfortunately they have to deal with training new delivery people just as often as my daily paper does and the routes have to be learned over and over again by new faces. I think I understand what the papers have to deal with. That’s why I’m patient with them.
Our newest daily paper delivery person has sent us a card letting us know her address. Normally we’re not privy to that information but it’s Christmas time and she’s looking for her bonus. Believe me; it will not pay for a swimming pool. For a short-timer she has done a good job but just like the last delivery person who gave us her address, she’ll be gone after the holidays.
It has to do with raising extra money for Christmas. I don’t blame her.
Oh yeah, I did pick the paper up out of the street and deposited it in the recycle bin. Just being a good citizen.
* * *
A few thoughts:
If you drop a sharp knife, don’t try to catch it.
I feel bad about what happened to Herman Cain but certain questions came up that he should have been asking himself before he even started to run as a presidential candidate. He basically laid himself wide open for it. Those of us who supported him were caught by surprise.
The Detroit Lions aren’t playing like a team right now; they’re playing like a bunch of angry self serving young men. Losing makes them mad so they do dumb things that make them lose even more. That won’t win many games guys.
All of those involved with the housing crisis including those in government would be sitting in prison right now if I had my way. It’s called, “crimes against the people.”
Until the next time . . .