When I was getting ready to graduate from high school, oh so many years ago, like so many other young adults I was faced with that all important decision, ‘what’s next?’. What do I do with my life?  At the time, as a teenager, I was really into photography.  I used to go out every night and photograph the sunset and mess around with time lapsed photography.  I actually thought I was good.  I wanted to be a Photographer when I grew up.

Well… my dad, in all his wisdom, steered me in another direction.  “Why don’t you go do something that actually makes money?  You can be a Photographer when you retire.”, he told me.  Wise words indeed.  I don’t know what the percentage of Photographers made a successful living at it, particularly back then – before the age of photo workshops and online presence, but it wasn’t very high.  And you had to be VERY good – David Muench good.

So I followed my dad’s sage advice and became an Engineer.  Now that I’m retired I have picked up my camera and tried to get serious about taking real photos.  Moreover, I set a goal for myself… I wanted to be published.  Not just published, but published in Arizona Highways.  A girl can dream, right?!

To my total aghast and surprise, I got a call from Arizona Highways yesterday.  Crazy, right?!  They had selected one of my deer photos for the 2017 AZ Highways calendar… not for a large month photo- but as a little inset photo.  Baby steps, though.  I’m going to have one of MY photos on AZ Highways 2017 classic calendars.  Be still my heart.  OMG!  My dad would be proud.