Master Photograhpher

Chris was talented in so many ways.  He not only had these talents but he sought for opportunities to develop and share them with others.  Photography was no exception.  Whenever there was an event you could expect Chris to have  his camera with him.  I was reminded of this as I transferred thousands of his pictures to my computer last month.  He had that God given ability to make people smile and that was clearly evident as I've looked at the expressions on the faces of those he took pictures of.  He even won a national award for an amazing shot of our neighbor water-skiing.

He enjoyed taking pictures of friends, family, his casts and the places he visited.  Every year I could plan on Chris sending me an email of pictures of his flowers in the yard, or his hanging baskets outside his apartment. So on this Memorial Day I thought it only fitting to include a picture Chris took of some beautiful spring flowers.

The Spirit of Adventure

All who knew Chris, knew that he loved to go places and do things.  As I've been looking through his pictures I can't believe all the places that he went.  Chris had connections and friends all over the world, so he always had an excuse to go somewhere new.  Whether it was Europe, India, Africa, South America, the West Indies, Israel or somewhere in the US. Sometimes he wouldn't tell his family about what he was planning next probably because we may have tried to talk him out of it.  I remember one time he just showed up with pictures and a video of him skydiving.  He probably enjoyed seeing how shocked we all were.

The above picture was taken while we were sled riding down the world's longest sled run in the Swiss Alps.  People must of thought, "look at those crazy Americans."  That didn't matter, we still had a great time.  So Chris, here's to adventure!

Chris and Family

With Mother's Day last Sunday, I couldn't help but think of the great love that Chris had for his family, especially his mother.  As my family and I visited my mom for Mother's Day, there was defiantly a void there at the house.  There was seldom a holiday or special event that Chris was not in attendance to. He was so supportive of the nieces and nephews sporting events, baby blessings or whatever else brought us together.  We always knew we could count on Chris being there.  He was a lighthouse in our life..... and still is today.  

The Movies and Chris

This week I was thinking about how much Chris loved the movies. He wore this shirt last fall while helping me at a show.  He was so proud of his Star Wars shirt and asked me to take this picture of him.  When we were kids I remember watching old classics like Old Yeller, Where the Red Fern Grows, and old western movies staring John Wayne and Clint Eastwood.  We used to go rent the 'old'' Little Rascals movies, UHF and Uncle Buck.  In high school he and Carrey and their friends would watch the old Saturday Night Live re-runs.  When we lived together at grandmas house I remember how much he loved The Prince of Egypt animation. 

In recent years he loved and owned all the Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and of course the Star Wars movies.  He not only loved to watch these movies but could quote lines perfectly as only Chris could do.  So as the move reviews would say, when it came to the movies Chris was... " Two enthusiastic thumbs up."