"You're waiting for a train, a train that will take you far away...."

Every once in a while I surprise myself and take a pretty decent picture. It doesn't happen a lot, but when it happens I get excited and tell people all about it.

And I usually throw something dumb in there like, "yeah so if you ever want family pictures I would love to take them so I can practice!" But the thing is, no one usually takes me up on that kind of offer (because they all know my history as a photographer). But then one day my sister in law did.

And the pictures, to everyone's astonishment, turned out alright. I mean, I'm no Ralphie, no Meleah, no....anyone who is actually a photographer. But I was kind of bustling with a little sense of accomplishment.

And then Laurie asked me if I would take her family's pictures. And some of them turned out alright too.

But also.... some turned out like this...

And while I've never understood why people take pictures of their children prancing along railroad tracks-- like it's something they do every day just for fun -- I can appreciate that they usually turn out cute and fun. But this? This looks like I tied my friend and her family to railroad tracks and then photographed their final moments together or something. But....practice makes perfect, right?