Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Before I was the Cable guy I worked for a Defense Department contractor. The facility manufactured advanced electronic components for the US DOD. During the stagnant early 80's it was one of the few local companies that was growing.

As things 'played out' it turned out the Company was little more than intricate tool in the owner's scheme to defraud a corporate partner to the tune of $1 billion. Sound familiar? Back-to-the-future?

As the scheme unfolded all of us that were employed there knew our days were numbered. My day was May 16th. It had been raining for days. I was called into a windowed office of the building and as I was being told I was being 'laid-off' I smiled. My boss looked at me and said, 'Well Jesus, Chris, the least you can do is act a little bit upset.'

I smiled at him and asked, 'Why? I know now what I have to deal with. You people still here, don't.' I looked towards the window and the sun was coming out. I continued, 'I'll be out on the water tomorrow in the sun. Where will you be?'

Three weeks later I snapped the picture you see above.

My fifteen minutes of fame.

At that time I lived in apartment on the second floor of a country farmhouse. That day a friend of mine came to visit. I saw a storm approaching and walked to the front porch to watch. I noticed that something 'strange' was going on. I called my friend to notice the flag across the road was blowing in one direction, the low clouds in another.

I then walked to the other side of the apartment to the kitchen to get something to drink. The kitchen was surrounded on three sides by wndows. I glanced outside as I reached into the refrigerator. There it was!

I called to my friend. I told him there is tornado in back-yard!

He ran back, saw it and said, 'Don't just stand there watching, GO GET YOUR CAMERA!' I did.

I snapped some pictures on film. This was before digital cameras.

I had the film processed. I had captured a good image of the storm.

Long story made short, the local paper bought and processed the photo.

It was carried nationally by the Associated Press; hence, my 15 minutes. ; )