Kodachrome

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors.
They give us the greens of summers.
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, Oh, yeah!
I got a Nikon camera;
I love to take a photograph.
So, mama, don’t take my Kodachrome away!

School was out Friday, so decided to take a desperately needed Mental Health Day. My idea of an MHD is to get out my camera and shoot photos. Unlike the Celine Dion tune, I wanted to be all by myself. Peace and quiet and the ability to be absolutely silent beckoned me. I didn’t want to talk. I longed for the sound of silence.

I put the Nikon in the truck, grabbed some water bottles and left. I had a place in mind that I had glimpsed at 65 mph. Anything that looks interesting at 65 mph will probably be much more interesting at walking speed.

When I arrived at this location, an hour’s drive, I found that I had been right. It was spectacular. I sat on a rock to take a picture of the scenery with a yucca plant positioned strategically in the foreground.

I hit the shutter button and nothing happened.

I tried hitting the reset button. I checked the battery’s status. It was fully charged. I checked the card slot. I had a nearly empty memory card in it. I tried pulling and replacing the battery. I reset the camera in every way I could.

Still nothing happened. I felt sick. I’d made this long drive for nothing.

I walked around this beautiful terrain then headed home.

When I got home, I called our extended warranty company. Much to my relief, camera is still covered. But I have to ship it to some place in Illinois. Who knows when I’ll have my Nikon returned to me.

Note to self: Don’t take photo trips without the film cameras. When my Nikon goes awry, a roll of Kodachrome in my Olympus camera is still useful.

“Please don’t take my Kodachrome away!”