Sure... the weather cooperated, and who could complain about a beautiful day running around the farm capturing images. Mama Linda was there... so was Papa David. Even girlfriend Lindsay was there to lend a hand and provide moral support.
All the trucks, tractors, guns, pups, barns, sheds and shades that a farm boy would ever need were at our disposal. Add in the fact I was working with a family I adore (Susie - BCLUW '09) (Tommy - BCLUW '11) (Mom 'n Dad Graduates of the School of how to throw 40th surprise parties), it was a day that could not have been set up any better.
Team Kuhl was hospitable as usual... helping me move this, and holding that... Even providing refreshments that went above and beyond... but somehow I wasn't surprised.
But even after all that awesomeness... we hadn't even gotten to the reason why I was so thankful as to why I just happened to be photographing with the Kuhl's that day.
We had finished several hours of shooting at the Kuhl's and Linda had told Ben and I to go out ahead of her... and that she would meet us at the studio in Montour.
So, young Ben and I hopped in the H3... headed down the gravel road. We were making small talk about his plans to go to Hawkeye Community College for Ag next year (I know... shocking) and then I noticed it...
The low tire light.
I didn't think too much of it... just a couple pounds of pressure up or down seems to set those dang things off nowadays anyway. No big deal, right?
But... just as a precaution, I told Ben we'd stop at the convenience store in LeGrand on our way back and check it... maybe put a little air in the tire.
We pull in to Cissy's III... hop out... and then Ben broke the news...
"Um... dude... you've got a REALLY flat tire over here."
Great.
Ben and I filled it as full as we could and got the thing rolling long enough to get us to the studio. In the meantime, I stopped and grabbed a little compressor at home and no more than ten minutes after getting back to the studio... it was flat as a pancake again.
Those of you that know me know that I am the opposite of what a handy-man is. I've told my fixer-upper father for year that this apple fell far from the tree, and indeed... his son's hands were made for writin' checks. ;)
While eventually I did have to write a big check to, fittingly, Ben's Tire, later that day, I didn't have to pay for all the help in getting the tire filled and refilled... plugged... and even Linda going above and beyond again by offering to drive the H3 into Marshalltown for me to save me some time. If I ever needed some good ol' Iowa farm knowledge and hospitality... that Monday was the day.
The Kuhl family might be Ford Tough... but reality tells me, they are also some of the nicest people I know. Thanks for bailing out your photographer... here's some killer images as my trade. ;)
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