That's the main thing.
What's the 'it?'
Just ask the the current group of East Marshall seniors that were lining up for what was their JUNIOR class picture back in April at their Prom at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown... they probably remember the story...
For those of you that DON'T know the story... I'll try to get you up to speed.
My wife and I are lining up the juniors for their group shot. The school brings in a few of their chorus risers... we set up a row of chairs... and BAM... it's a group shot of the kids looking their very best on a special night. Usually a group of forty to sixty... it's tightly packed with the girls in the front to show of their large investments in attire... while most of the guys are in the back lookin' fly in their tuxes.
So, we're busily gettin' everything fine tuned... getting the majority of the gang in place... there's a buzz around the room... a non-stop din of noise... it's PROM, for crying out loud, right?
Ben Mastin... the subject of this blog, was feeling the crunch of the group and the seemingly non-stop jockeying for position... the girls pressing forward to the choice spots in front... the guys trying to get in a spot where we can see them, too.... everyone trying to stand by their BFFs.
We were getting close to having it about where we wanted it... fine tuning the positioning amidst the loud chatter... and suddenly Ben was trying to make one more spot for himself near the front...
And then it happened...
"MR. STEWART!!! MR. STEWART!!!"
The only thing is... Ben didn't say "Stewart."
*crickets*
To protect the innocent, I'll leave what he DID say out of this forum... but those in this area probably don't have to think real hard to figure it out.
The first two letters are the same, but just like a Presidential moderator wouldn't want to call the Republican candidate "President Obama" or the Democrat "Governor Romney," there's mistakes you just don't wanna make.
Calling me by my biggest competitor's name is one.
Most heard what Mr. Mastin said... and if I'm honest, he's not the first... probably won't be the last. I would like to think that perhaps the tables have been turned once or twice over the past decade as well.
That being said... the loud buzz came to a screeching halt... and I then regrettably added to the problem.
"Excuse ME?!??!"
You could almost feel the air being sucked out of the room.
Immediately I felt pretty juvenile about it... and when the picture was done and we were tearing down, my sophomore daughter came running in.
"Mom, what did Ben say to Dad, everyone is talking about it!"
That's when I knew that it had really gotten out of hand... and I knew I shouldn't have reacted the way I did.
In the past I've mentioned in the spaces that make up this very blog, that I USUALLY use this group photograph as a way to "W & L" the upcoming group of seniors... A brief guesstimate as to approximately how many seniors Stewart Photography might reasonably expect to get from that class, if you will.
After THIS happened... I thought it was safe to say, that my childish reaction insured that I would no longer be needing to even consider in any way, shape or form the possibility that Ben Mastin would be on the W or "winning" side of that ledger.
But, as things have turned out... I DID get a chance to make it all up to Ben... and I'm happy to report that we've both let bygones be bygones and he and I and his mother had a blast buzzing all over Tama and Marshall County taking advantage of some of the best color of the season.
We got our plaid wearin', belt buckle sportin, hay-balin' extraordinaire down-on-the-farm images done before bangin' out a couple more 'regular' outfits, and our once-frayed relationship was back on solid footing. We even teamed up together to get a local farmer to wonder what in the HECK we were doing.
"Just gettin' some pictures by some corn, sir."
;)
So, if it's true that all's well that ends well... I can safely say that Ben and I's rough patch has been smoothed out. We all make mistakes... he and I both know that... and the true test of someone's mettle is to admit it, grow from it... and move on a better person.
Thanks for giving me that chance, Mr. Mastin.
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