I had worked with Lisa Flamme on a couple of occasions within the past four years. Her son Nick led the way as part of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Class of 2011. Daughter Taylor followed two years later.
The trifecta was slated for a week ago Wednesday and everything was surely going to go off without a hitch being the third go-around, right?
One would think, anyway. However the day had a few proverbial wrenches thrown in.
Lisa and I had talked the day before about the not-so-ideal forecast for that Wednesday morning.
The experts were calling for a 90-something percent chance of rain and that presented issues for our original plan to meet at Farmstead Flamme east of Gladbrook.
No worries I said... one way or another we'll get there. If not Wednesday... then some other day.
But in the meantime, I suggested that Team Flamme, which included Mr. Logan Flamme this go around, come on down to the studio FIRST... and then we'll play it by ear.
The rains came... followed by the expected phone call from Mama.
"We're gonna come on down, Bryan," Lisa said. "But we have one more issue..."
In one of those Mom-Wants-To-Wring-Her-Kid's-Neck moments.... Lisa informed me that the football gear that she TOLD her son to bring for the morning session... was forgotten at the high school.
No big deal, right?
Not really.... except for the fact that they were needing to leave for Montour for the session... and the HIGH SCHOOL in Reinbeck is roughly 20 miles to the NORTH of their home near Gladbrook.
I told Lisa not to sweat it... we'd see them when we see them. Go get the gear, and hustle on down.
Much closer to 9 than the scheduled 8 a.m. slot, the Flammes were finally on the scene... football gear in tow.
We started with the idea that we'd get indoor done, and then re-evaluate.
After the rocky start that included rain road blocks and a lack of football-ducks-in-a-row, we were finally photographing. I learned right away that after seeing older brother Nick refuse to smile with his teeth four years ago... it took exactly ONE exposure for Logan to eclipse that mark. (I'll credit girlfriend Bailea Evenson for that!)
We got a healthy amount of sports talk in... including lots of discussion about G-R's excellent football season they're currently putting together. And if I was gonna praise Logan for that success... we couldn't avoid talking about the other end of the spectrum either...
Logan is a Cubs fan.
But before anything else is said... I'm not casting stones... because most know I'm a fellow long suffering Cubs fan as well.
We did talk about the future and all the youth that the current Cubs regime is banking on to get things turned around. Hey... everyone's allow a bad century, right? Ahem.
As we completed our morning of sports talk and photographs, I popped out the back door and the rains had lifted. So it was off to Gladbrook after all!
Tractors, semis, horse trailers, corn, sheds and plenty of farm animals were on the docket. We covered it all, and despite all the stuff we had done previously... it all paled in comparison to when we got Logan in his natural environment.
In the end, while things got off to a slow start, it all worked out. Lisa found herself apologizing and even had a hard time making an important request before we started because she felt somehow guilty for being a little late.
I assured her it was quite alright.
Lisa's eyes welled up and she swallowed hard when she asked me if there was a way for me to pay a tribute to Logan's best friend.
I know I don't need to tell anyone in Rebel Nation whom I'm talking about, but for those that don't know... Logan's best buddy, Noah Ohrt lost his brave battle back in March with Ewings Sarcoma.
Lisa didn't know exactly what I could come up with, but if there was a way to do something... both she and Logan would like that.
I never met Noah, but from everything I've been able to gather from my G-R friends in the past year or two, he seemed to be a fine young man and an inspiration to many. Add in the fact that he was a believer... and did I mention he was a Hawkeye fan??? It was my pleasure to put something together to honor the fellas and their friendship. The result is the last image on this blog.
RIP Mr. Ohrt, and thank you Team Flamme for all your support and referrals over the years. <3 .="" br="">
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