Yuma Bev takes a Picture

I like to take pictures, but since I have Parkinson's Disease, I am not exactly steady.  I have an inexpensive Point & Shoot camera with a viewfinder as well as the display screen.  Holding the camera against my face helps and it has Image Stabilizer built in, which means it will adjust for some movement (shaky hands, wobbling body).  I should use a tripod, but I'm too lazy, and I'd probably knock the whole thing over. 

My neighbor, Sharon, is a Master Gardner, so her yard is a favorite place for me.  She has blooming plants, interesting decorations and an unobstructed view of the mountains to the east. She also finds humor in the blonde girl, still in pajamas, wandering in her yard, taking photos at sunrise.

Sharon's yard

My photos of her cactus blooms have been featured in other blog stories.  I even won a Facebook Flower Photo Contest with one.  The prize was a Worm Farm, (no, I don't know what it is) which I promptly donated, sight unseen, to the local 4H club.

The nice people at the University of Arizona -Cooperative Extension Department contacted me recently and asked permission to use one of my cactus pictures for their brochure.  They offered me a signed book on Arizona Insects by Carl Olson as compensation. I guess I should have kept the worm farm, I could have fed the worms to all the insects I can now identify.  I, of course, said YES and promptly called and told Sharon the news.

The Photo they used

Well, the Insect book and a sample of the brochures arrived today. I was expecting the little 4x8 type flyer found in hotel lobbies.  Instead, it was a big tri-fold fancy brochure and right inside was my photo, prominently featured.  Needless to say, I was thrilled. 

My picture inside brochure

Then I looked closer and there it was, in small print, "Photo by YumaBev". Photo credit was a bonus, it wasn't part of the deal.

It says Photo by YumaBev

So, now I guess I can add Photographer right after Humorist and Songwriter on a job application. Of course, no one will be able to read my hand-writing except a Doctor. 

Thank you for reading this story, I hope you enjoyed it. This is just one of a hundred stories in my book, Parkinson's Humor - Funny Stories about My Life with Parkinson's Disease. Please consider purchasing a copy from Amazon or your favorite online book seller. Thank you and have a Happy Parkie Day!