Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 23:06:23 -0700
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: Photo 15

Photo
by:  dnrock(dnrocl@rock.com)


15:  Getting it Together

We worked like demons following the photo shoot at Whitefish.  Bard and I
spent hours in the darkroom preparing the images, Trevor came to Bellingham
on weekends to work with us.  He would fly from Calgary to Vancouver,
B.C. and we would pick him up on Friday afternoon and deliver him again
first thing Monday morning.  Chuck created a layout model with images
inserted.  Bob and Veronica e-mailed the text between them polishing it up
and fitting it into the text boxes Chuck created.  Margaret functioned as
editor.  The second draft was forwarded to the publishers in four calendar
weeks.  I sent the final prints to Chicago in the fifth week and Margaret
had galley proofs back in seven weeks.

In week ten Jason somehow managed to get his hands on a small but very fast
executive jet, that he piloted himself.  I guess if you have enough cash in
the bank you can rent just about anything.  Jason and Trevor started in
Calgary, came to Bellingham, picked up Brad and I, flew on to Olympia to
pick up Bob, on to Spokane for Margaret and Missoula for Veronica, then to
Chicago.  The publishers people met us at the Atlantic Aviation's, Midway
Airport hanger and our meetings started in the limo on the way down town.
We were meeting to go over the galley proofs and make final editorial
changes.  Margaret and the publishers staff had put together an
introduction, index and credit pages.

I would have liked to have maintained creative control over the entire
process but that would have been impossible with this kind of quick turn.
I do have a bit of an ego and it needs to be feed, but the production
process is new to me and would have required a steep learning curve.  I had
been just a bit uneasy about the physical specifications of the
publication, paper choice and so on anyway.  As it turned out the publisher
put top people on our team and my concerns were unfounded.  They had
editors and publishers with lots of experience.  Jason had somehow put a
lot of pressure on the publishing company as well as the printers.  We
would be ready for launch in early June.  Ziggy told me some time later he
overheard Jason on the phone admonishing the chairman of the publishers
board, that if they were not willing to cooperate with his schedule he just
might find it necessary to buy the company.  I asked Ziggy if Jason had
those kinds of resources.

"Well probably not in his personal checking account but the Adonis family
could probably buy and sell Bill Gates, in an afternoon."

It was a late night for all of us, fortunately Jason's condo on Michigan
Ave., a short distance north of the Loop, was spacious and very
comfortable.  After our meeting I was so bushed that I don't even remember
getting ready for bed.  I do remember waking up in the morning, dam alarm
clock.  Our room looked south and we could see the Loop and the Lake Shore
Park.

We met again with the publishing people and several of the Northwest
Foundation directors.  This was the same publisher that was handling the
Public Clocks of Chicago book.  I was more then satisfied with the
treatment given my photographs in that book, another confidence builder.
Most were color and the separations were very well done.  They maintained
the subtle pastel shades of the stone and bricks while keeping the metallic
often copper green patina and black of the clocks themselves. This book was
being released in the fall.

Our book would use very high gloss, acid free, 120 weight paper, I think.
The lithographers were the same people who did all the Karsh portrait
editions and several of the Ansel Adams collections.  We would be in good
company and I knew we had nothing to worry about.  Our book would be just
slightly less than ten by ten, with a soft cover and stitched binding.

The photo curator at the Art Institute had volunteered or been volunteered,
to supervise a collection of 25 prints from the 50 in the book, for a
traveling exhibit.  I believe, but it was never confirmed that the NWF's
legal council, one Rupert, a patron and director of the Institute had some
influence.  I was to have enlargements prepared of the ones he selected and
sent back in the next two weeks.  He would also see that posters of a few,
were ready for sale, they would be printed by the same lithographers as the
book, so they could work from my original eleven by seventeen prints.
chuck would work with the publisher to create a CD version to replace the
one and only press run of the hard copy.

As we returned west I was overcome with emotion.  Saying good buy to
Veronica in Missoula was not easy.  We had become very close during the
week in Whitefish and had been e-mailing and telephoning on a constant
basis since.  Our affair had moved rapidly from hesitant and tentative sex
to full blown passionate lust and that feeling of emptiness and loss when
apart.  The feeling of longing that can only be satisfied by sinking your
cock into her.

Seeing her in the flesh again for even such a short time was turning my
emotions inside out.  She needed to concentrate on exams and I needed to
generate some income.  Exam week for Veronica and Bob was almost at hand
and they both needed to study.  They were both about to graduate.  All I
know is I sure did not want her to get off that jet.  I now had a real idea
of just how Brad must feel every time he is forced to leave Linda behind.
In their case it was, love at first meeting.  For me and I sure hope
Veronica, it was love that snuck up and hit you over the head or stabbed
you in the preverbal heart.  For sure it was lust that welded our crotches
together.  That is how love starts, isn't it?

During the flight home, on the Chicago to Missoula leg, Brad had been
invited to sit in the right seat and assist Jason at the controls.  He was
thrilled to do so.  I was torn between my love of flying and desire to
learn, and spending my time with Veronica.  It was no real contest,
Veronica won hands down.  Herman and Margaret were in constant conversation
and Bob spent a lot of time with Trevor.  Veronica and I secured the bench
seat at the back of the craft and made out oblivious to the existence of
anyone else.  Brads' voice came over the intercom instructing us get
dressed and fasten seat belts for landing.  I did not want to part from
Ronnie but part we must.  She still had exams to write and I had
professional obligations on the coast.  I realized just how much in love I
had fallen, I think she realized it too.  We kissed passionately on the
tarmac to the applause of our comrades and the taxi driver.

"Apollo, would you take my right to Spokane?"

"Sure thing Jason, I just love flying but my only experience is in a 172."

"That's more then I had until today," Brad piped in.

"Just read out the check list and mark off my responses," Jason said
handing me the chipboard and a pencil.  We were on the taxi way and in the
air before Ronnie's taxi got her to the dorm.

"Captain Jason requests all passengers and crew fix your selves to the
sticking place, we are about to take off."

I do have an eclectic world view and am very well read.  Throwing quotes
from The Bard in now and than, is just kind of normal.

"Missoula tower this is x-ray, yankee, X-ray in position on 90."

"X-ray, yankee, X-ray, this is Missoula tower, you are clear for take off."

" X-ray, yankee, X-ray Cleared and taking off, thank you tower."  And take
off we did.  We both placed our hands on the throttles and pressed forward
the aircraft hesitated for a instant as the mighty turbines would up
winding at a very high pitch and we began to roll, then run, then sprint,
suddenly leaped into the air, Jason pulling gently back on the column.
This thing was not all that large but it could climb like snot.  A big
silver pencil with two huge turbines.

After we cleared the gild paths and leveled off I told the passengers to
breath easy and stand down.

"Apollo I took the liberty of inviting the Sanders to have dinner with us
in Spokane, I hope you don't mind."

"Mind no, not in the least, Jonas will be absolutely thrilled but you know
from now on he will be expecting to fly with us."

"Yes, and in your seat too, I'll bet.  I think it can be arranged before
our summer is over."

"You know his parents think we spoil him and Shelley"

"Correct again but then what are "Dutch Uncles" for anyway, if not to spoil
our adopted nieces and nephews?"

The term Dutch Uncle now days means just what Jason suggested.  Its origins
are less nobel and were meant to be a putdown of the Dutch, who in the 17th
century were rivals of England, in the building of global empires.  I
believe at that time the Dutch had "English" sayings too.  In those days a
Dutch Uncle would be one who gave poor or useless support or advice.  I
guess since the French are less then popular in North America, at this time
in history, it is a lot better to be a Dutch "oom of tante" (uncle or aunt)
than a French "oncle ou tante" (uncle or aunt).

"Now don't start with the you do to much stuff Apollo, we have already
covered that ground."

"I wouldn't think of it Jason but we do need to think a bit about the
Sanders' and Abitsford's points of view.  Between the two of us we are
changing the lives of those children and their families and those changes
are likely to be profound."

"I realize that, I don't mean to sound flippant.  You and I are very
special people Apollo.  We are special because we have the power.  We
didn't ask for it but we have it.  When we touch peoples lives, we leave a
mark or a piece of ourselves.  They are never the same afterwards.  We are
special because we both realize this and we take seriously the
responsibility that those effects must be positive or beneficial, if at all
possible."

"I don't know about this special thing Jason."

"You are just being modest, don't be, be hard on the issue and easy on the
people, isn't that your advice?"

"Well something like that, yes.  I guess what you are saying by focusing on
the issue, problem, question or task, instead of the personalities, we
leave a message or lesson with others."

"Yes partly but also we are natural leaders, we lead by example.  We each
in our own way, put our selves on the line for what we believe is fair,
right and honorable. "

This conversation went on for some time only being interrupted to land in
Spokane.  I was not comfortable with Jason's analysis.  He was correct and
deadly accurate.  My discomfort arose only from the possibility that my ego
may overpower my good judgment, now that this "power" has been articulated
or exposed as it were.  Beyond that, Jason all but told me he knew Jonas
was my boy, intimated his younger brother Drew was his boy.  What disturbed
me was his suggestion that is was this mysterious power that dictated these
relationships almost as if we were fated.

Jonas was beside himself with excitement as Bob showed him the cockpit,
placing the boy in the left seat and putting the captain's hat on his head.
The remainder of us were all fussing over his baby sister.  At the
restaurant we showed the Sanders the galley proofs of the book.  Jenny was
just blown away she and Simon were filled with praise and admiration.  I
think a good measure of pride to.  Jonas gave the most poignant moment
which I was able to capture on film.  He reached out and gently, lovingly
touched Shelley's face with a tear forming in is his little eyes.  He was
so touched by the beauty of the memory.  That's when I knew this was not
just a good piece of art, it was an emotionally powerful piece of art.  It
would do everything we had hoped and one hell of a lot more for deaf kids
right around the world.

"Apollo, you have given the greatest gift of all, your power is now in
Jonas' and Shelley's images.  They will touch millions."  Simon whispered.
All I could do was nod and try not to tear myself.

"Simon, I don't quite know what to say."

"You and the others have already said it in your book.  Jenny and I have
had long talks with the Abitsford's, when they see the proofs I know they
will be as supportive as we are."

"But this will totally disrupt your families."

"Sure it will, but we knew that was always a possibility.  Parents always
want to shelter and protect, but that like anything else, must be managed,
balanced.  It is the yin and yang of the world.  We can not stop them from
growing up.  Jonas knows he will never be able to hear, since he has never
had experiences with sound he does not miss it at all.  He knows he is
viewed as different from most other people who can hear.  He realizes with
you and the others, that difference just does not exist, as it does not
exist in his family.  So you are family.  You are as important to him as
Jenny, Jewel and I.  Emotionally he is 10 but intellectually 12 or 14.  He
has blossomed in the past year so much.  He so desperately wants to be like
you and Brad, he would work at it 24/7 if he didn't need to sleep."

"We don't want to brake your family."

"We know that.  Jenny and I realize he has a special gift.  We are not sure
exactly what that gift is but the boy has a personality and talent which is
extraverted and communication oriented.  He needs you and others to grow
and learn, just what that talent is."

"I guess we all just got a little brother and you just extended your family
beyond your wildest imagination."

"Yes something like that.  By the way are you and Veronica planning to get
married?"

"No plans, I think we just discovered each other in a romantic sense, why?"

"Well you know how precocious he is, the other day he told me he thought
you two were planning, that's all."

"Hum, did he relate his other adventures?"

"He did tell us Brad and Linda shared a room but he and Shelley were kept
apart."

"Oh, he did and did he tell you that Veronica and I also shared a room with
him and that he joined us in bed one night asking me in the morning if we
were trying to make a baby like my mom and dad?"  Simon smiled and
chuckled.

"Like I said emotionally 10 intellectually 12 maybe 15.  Were okay with
stuff, Jenny and I are not prudes.  Jenny being an RN has been quite up
front with the biology of babies.  Jonas often joins us in bed on weekend
mornings.  It's okay, as long as you and Veronica are not embarrassed."

I didn't tell him we were naked and that Jonas had shed his PJ's.

"We are okay with what ever he does.  I think Veronica and I were flattered
that he chose to snuggle with us, to accept us as family."

"I warned you a 10 year old would be a real handful."

Ms Trend and Herman left us.  They would drive to Calgary through Columbia
Falls visiting Shelley with the proofs.  The remainder of us headed for
Bellingham.  Jonas was disappointed that he could not come along but we
assured him next time we came it would be to take both him and Shelley on a
grand tour.  Jason promised to send him a flight simulator for his computer
so he would be ready, "to take my right on the next flight".  I just about
died when he promised that, I sure hope he realizes when you promise a kid
you just got to come through.

Trevor put his arm on my shoulder and whispered, "don't worry your pretty
little head, I'll remind him, Jason never promises what he can't deliver.
He promised to adopt us, me and my brothers if we could pass his test.
Jason made sure the school had prepared us to pass it.  He only sets you up
to win.  When Jason Adonis gives his word on something you can take it to
any bank, not just the ones the family owns."

I was keeping my eye on the cockpit radar as we crossed the Cascades.  West
of the Mountains the cloud deck was thick and blanketed everywhere from
Portland to Vancouver, BC.  Ah, that wonderful west coast rain, liquid
sunshine.  Jason was in contact with ATC, I understood most but not all of
what they were saying.  It sounded like quite a buildup at SeaTack.  They
were routing us around several towering nimbus cells and out over the
water.  The air was a bit bouncy but not to bad at our altitude but would
get quite rough when we got to close to one of the rain cells.

The radar indicated a number a aircraft ahead and at much lower altitudes
as we passed over SeaTack's air space.

"I hope your instrument rating is current?"

"Yes as a mater of fact I just re-qualified for this aircraft last month,
does that make you feel safer?"

"No, I don't mind when I can see ahead but this flying blind is a little
unsettling, regardless of qualifications."

"Just think of it as taking pictures in a fog or driving a snowmobile up a
mountain in whiteout conditions."

"Ya but, we just can't slow down or get off to check the trail, now can
we."

"Sure we can, we can cut our airspeed by 2/3's and still keep above stall
but that won't be necessary, I don't think, just keep you eye on the radar
and verify my compass headings and other instruments."

He just wants to keep my mind off the conditions, I thought.

"Ah, Jason what is that bright spot on the radar?"

"That is a very good question, Apollo.  It looks like another aircraft on
our heading and at about our altitude."  The sweep comes around again and
the dot has moved.

"I think we are closing on him wouldn't you say?"

"ATC this is X-ray, Yankee, X-ray."

"go ahead, X-ray, Yankee, X-ray"

"ATC are their other aircraft in our immediate vicinity?"

"X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, I don't have an indication of any other traffic in
your immediate area."

"ATC, X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, our cockpit radar show a strong echo, 5 miles
dead ahead and closing fast."

"X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, What is your exact position."

"ATC, X-ray, Yankee, X-ray is 48 degrees, 24 minutes, 32.5 seconds north
and 122 degrees, 22 minutes and 40 seconds west at 11,000 feet, bearing 320
degrees, airspeed 375 knots, over."

"Jason we are now two miles from that blip and still closing fast."  He
held up his hand to cut me off.

"X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, ATC please climb to 20,000 feet immediately, repeat
climb to 20,000 feet immediately."  Jason pulled back on the column and
pressed the throttles forward, which is really up increasing our airspeed
to 420 knots at a climb angel of 20 degrees.

I announced on the intercom "fasten your belts immediately."

"ATC, X-ray, Yankee, X-ray now leveling off at 20,000 feet..."

"X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, ATC, what does your radar show now and how is your
fuel?"

"ATC, X-ray, Yankee, X-ray shows no radar activity except for thunder
storms, we have 1 hour and 10 minutes of fuel at current rate."

"X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, ATC, turn to heading 110 degrees, hole altitude and
reduce your airspeed to 220 knots."

"ATC, X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, new heading 110 degrees, at 220 knots, holding
at 20,000 feet."  ATC was now checking with the other aircraft in the area.
Each controller looks after a specific bit of airspace.  That space may
have several aircraft in it.  He was trying to find out was not in the
position he was supposed to be in.  Obviously by separating us from the
craft we were so rapidly overtaking his radar should clearly identify the
mystery plane.  I could hear the other pilots checking in mostly commercial
and one Fedex cargo.  All seemed to be accounted for.

Now that we have changed course we could no longer see the mystery plane on
our scope.

"What the hell is going on Jason?"

"Not sure buddy but I think we just avoided a mid air collision that will
qualify as a near miss from a report point of view.  Just keep focused on
your job, we can and I assure you, will obsess about this once on the
ground."

"Look to the south, two blips very close together and moving very fast."

"Military I'll bet, who ever that was, is either way out of position or had
not checked in with ATC.  I doubt that the commercial boys who called in
were badly out of place and that fellow did not identify himself."

"X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, Bellingham Tower,"

"Go ahead Bellingham Tower, X-ray, Yankee, X-ray."

"X-ray, Yankee, X-ray, I want to bring you in on 210, turn left to 30 and
descend to 10,000...."  The tower brought us right down on runway 210 just
like it was bright sun and daytime.  We popped out of the clouds at about
450 feet to see the runway lights in the mist and fog about three quarters
of a mile ahead.  We were right on the center line.  Jason set the bird on
the tarmac just as gently as if we had been riding in the Hummer and taxied
up to the flight service hanger.

"What the hell were you guys doing up front," Trevor inquired as only
Trevor can.  Brad looked rather pale and Bob was visibly up set.

"Avoiding a mid air impact, Apollo and I thought you boys need some
excitement."

Plato pulled up to the hanger as we unloaded our luggage.  Jason was
immediately on the phone to the tower and then ATC.

It was now quite late and raining.  We decided to get some sleep and meet
for breakfast at Jason's hotel, I would drive Bob to Olympia in the
morning, Brad had classes to attend and Jason and Trevor would fly to
Calgary.

"Apollo what the hell are you boys up to now?"

"Come on Sam, we have been good, in fact we have not rescued any damsels in
distress or little boys for months now."

"Weren't you in the right seat of CF-XYX last night?"

"Well yes and Jason Adonis was the captain but..."

"The FAA and DEA boys are all over me so I'm all over you."

"I'm just a bit confused, Sam. "

"Look, that plane you almost hit last night was a DC3 loaded with drugs.
The DEA boys were trying to follow it but lost them in the storm.  When you
reported almost hitting it the FAA people got real up set with the DEA for
not including them in the plan.  That lack of communication almost caused a
crash.  Adonis filed a rather scathing report and so did the controller.
The DEA scrambled two USAF 16's to escort the DC3 to a safe landing,
unfortunately in Victoria, BC.  The Canadians are unhappy, well pissed off
is more like it, that a drug loaded aircraft was chased into Canada without
letting them know it was coming, until the F16's were already in Canadian
airspace when they got the CF-18's from Comax to take over.  NORAD will
sort that out but the diplomats and RCMP are a little more than upset.
Since 9-11 the Canadians have been complaining about US paranoia that
tramples on Canadian sovereignty, and you know they are right."

"But Sam, I still don't understand the bureau's involvement."

"Well I can't tell you about that but the cock up was the DEA's and they
are just pointing fingers at everyone else in an attempt to deflect the
shit from their heads.  The FAA will not let this go easily, nor should
they.  I have a desire to protect my witnesses and civilians from DEA
bureaucratic bullshit, that's why I called you.  The DEA will just have to
take their political and diplomatic lumps on this one.  If the DEA so much
as phones you let me know ASAP.  My director just wanted to know how come
you three seem to be in the middle of so many things that's all."

"Just lucky," Brad blurted out.

"Right, let me talk to Adonis for a minute."  Some times I think I would
like it better if I did not have this dam cell phone.

"Agent Snipe how nice to hear your voice."

"You kids are going to be the death of me, I'm not angry it's more like a
worried parent, I do need to ask if you want to add anything to your "near
miss" report, did you see the aircraft or its lights?"

"No just the radar contact, I think my account of what happened was about
as complete as I could make it."

"It is quite detailed, I have one more question for you two, can you hear
Apollo?"  How did he know Jason and I had our heads close enough to share
the ear piece? 'Yes."

"You noticed the blip Apollo just after you descended from 15 thousand to
10 thousand, is that correct?"

"Yes, we both answered."

"Why didn't you notice it sooner your radar has a fair reach?"

"We came down at a relatively sharp angle and with the storms around the
other aircraft was obscured in the storm echo.  Now if that plane was
changing altitude at about the same time and given the limitations of our
instrument..."

"Okay Jason, I think that explains it well enough for us non technical
types.  Those DEA boys are paranoid and when they saw your CF registration
wanted to make some kind of conspiracy out of the fact that the F16's
couldn't get the DC3 down on the US side.  They were hopping that I had
some influence with you not to file the report.  I told them I did not have
that kind of stroke and even if I did I wouldn't use it.  You and the
controller did the right thing by following the rules.  Public safety is
the most important thing here not some DEA's arrest record.  I also told
them they were damn lucky that Margaret Trend, "a crack reporter," had
stayed in Spokane and was not on board at the time.  That put the fear of
public opinion into them.  This fellow will be lucky if they reassign him
to Antarctica.  By the way Apollo how is the book coming?"

"First class sir, you should have a signed copy by mid June."

Inter agency rivalry is alive and well so is CYA.