My dad had a fascination with water towers.  He loved seeing them in the distance as we drove into small towns, he loved taking photographs of water towers, and he hoped to publish a book or calendar with these photos.  He felt like they were symbolic of something, but I don’t remember what that was, I just know he found them to be comforting, and he often would drive to towns just to see them.  Me and my mom would always point them out on our drives, and then we would pull over so he could take his photos.  The best one is probably the Mickey Ears from Walt Disney World.   My dad passed away 7 years ago and he didn’t get to publish his book of water towers, and at this moment I do not know where most of these photographs are, but I think of my dad whenever I see the tall tower in the distance.

During a road trip, when I was a child, we were talking about our passion for writing, travel, and small towns.  I mentioned wanting to write a travel book one day… the term “one day” and “someday” have always been a big part of my vocabulary:

“I will do it one day.”

“I want to go there someday.”

“I will write a book one day.”

Even though I can’t snap my fingers and be anywhere, and I can’t always find the time to write, my mindset has shifted.  Travel and write today doesn’t mean you will do everything or be everywhere today, it just means that you’re working towards it today.  If you want to write, you write, if you want to travel, you plan.  Like my motto says: If you’re deciding on the right time to work towards your goals or change careers, the right time to take that next trip, the best time to write that book — the answer is today.  Don’t wait.  I know others have published water tower books, and anyone can go out there and see them standing beautifully in the distance against the sky, but the photographs you see won’t be my dad’s – and that’s why I’ve changed my way of thinking – don’t do it one day or someday.  Do it today.