It seems a strange thing to have a blog on a photography site.
And it is.
The truth is my family is a family of stories. As most are. As I get older it becomes more and more critical to preserve those stories. Once many of us are gone, how will the younger generations remember them? I know I wish I knew more and more stories of my families past. Christmas’ lost, or hunting stories long in the past.
So that’s the reason for this blog. My hope is it starts with the stories I know, the stories I have either heard or know about, or even was a part of.
And then, if it evolves, then it can become stories of generations past. And future generations.
The story of Redjack as a name is part of all of this. My wife, Sheryl, and I have had many pets over the years. Our first dog was a brown lab named Mia … Mia will remain eternally in our hearts. And we have a few stories about her as well.
Our next lab we picked up in Mia’s later years, her name was Ana and she was a great pup. Sweet as apple pie and she adored her bigger sister Mia.
Mia lived a nice long life to the age of 13 and Ana passed away shortly after. At that point we decided a new dog was probably something to wait on.
A friend and co-worker though inquired about my opinions on a good place to purchase a lab and I had just been made aware of an incredible kennel run by my good friends at Mossy Oak. Ed, my friend, decided this was the place he would get a new pup from. He picked up a yellow lab named Red.
Shortly after Red arrived Ed calls me and says he has a problem. Both his wife and his son are seriously allergic to dogs and he asks if I know of a good place for Red. I was quick to say I would inquire but that we simply were not ready to pick up another dog.
A day or two goes by and I let Sheryl know about Ed’s issue. She immediately says we have to at least go visit the pup and I of course know (as does she) that the outcome is practically inevitable.
So we go to Ed’s house and of course Red is incredible. A few weeks old and full of life. I remember the moment so distinctly … I ask Ed and his wife Dede if we can have a moment to discuss. I tell Sheryl I can’t imagine leaving this house without that dog and Sheryl feels the exact same way. So we enter Ed’s home again, look at them, and I say “well … I think we’re pregnant.” Red leaves with us that afternoon.
When we begin to register Red we have to have a name so we register him as “Mossy Oak Red Jack Barnes” and the term “redjack” was born.
So that’s the name of the site, and that’s the name of our pup who has been, without question, one of our greatest blessings (one of too many to count).
The stories are important, and so that’s the reason for this weird section on a photography site.
Hopefully those of you who see them will enjoy them, appreciate them for what they are. And of course I am going to encourage the participants of these stories to validate my version and insure that what has been documented is in fact real.
I hope you enjoy.
Jack