Another spontaneous road trip leaves me looking at the the bright burst of colors hovering high above the water. I was lucky to get a room on the beach in San Diego, especially because it was the 4th of July weekend.
I’ve seen fireworks hundreds of times before but this night is different.
The colors are captivating, the noise is thunderous and the energy of the crowd is beaming. Children are proudly waving the American Flag as their parents enjoy the show with a cold beer. The moment was blissful. 
Suddenly it had occured to me that I can capture some of this awesomeness surrounding me. I pull out the disposable camera in my beach bag and start pointing and clicking at the firework show in front of me. My timing seems impeccable and I am suddenly extremely excited to have this card board technology in my hand. These fireworks are amazing and I can keep them for life!
Driving back home to Arizona I could hardly wait to develop my pictures. I was wondering if I should put the photographs in an album or if I should frame the best one. I became aware of the rush that a photographer gets when he develops his personal masterpiece and I knew I was going to experience that remarkable sensation in just a few hours.
Before arriving home, I dropped my camera off at Walgreen’s and I asked them to put a rush on it. My incessant talk about these soon to be fabulous photographs had my friends curiosity peaked, she had decided to stick around and wait with me.
I gleefully walked back in Walgreen’s an hour later, that is the moment I have been anticipating! The man behind the counter looked perplexed and warned me that my pictures may not have turned out the was I was expecting. It didn’t matter, I wanted them now!
Like a kid at Christmas I felt the rush flowing through my body as I opened the glorious gift in front of me. My friend hovered over my shoulder as I put my hand in the envelope and felt the thick stack of beautiful photographs awaiting my nod of approval.
Then that moment arrived and suddenly my convivial mood turns melancholy as I fliped through one black photo after another and one picture of a persons foot. Adding insult to injury was the roaring laughter from my “supportive” friend.
Looking back now that was a funny waste of $3.95. However, I did learn that in order to be a successful photographer it does take the initial passion I had on the beach that day and a lot more knowledge, practice, patience and help. 
As I move towards a successful photography career I still crack up at all the “should have been” great photographs that I botch. But it’s fun and that’s what it’s about. Enjoying the awesome surroundings and clicking away with people who create beautiful works of art and sometimes hideous looking non-sequiturs.
Nice story Nick!
Christian Skye Walker
Totally awesome story- I used to have the same “kid on christmas morning” feeling, I would COUNT the minutes till the mailman came with my photos before one hour photos were born. Even then I couldnt WAIT- the hours seemed like a week. I reference that on my page as well. I was sooo excited.