Hunter Ingalls loved words, the arts and expressions of creativity. He also strongly believed that every individual has the ability to be creative with words and produce works of art, but some of us just need to be encouraged to try it. Hunter came up with a wonderful prop that he would use whenever someone would confess they didn't have it, lost it or couldn't get it.

A group of Amarillo writers, musicians, painters, sculptors and photographers and other artists of all kinds have been meeting at the Blue Front Cafe on Friday mornings for at least a decade for coffee, breakfast and intellectual stimulation. I love going to these meetings not only because of the companionship among all these "eccentric" characters, but many times creative ideas are expressed that help me to "think outside the box".

One of these Friday mornings I was sitting next to Hunter and bemoaned the fact that I have been exercising my training in photo journalistic style of photography for so long that I was having trouble with creating more conceptual type images. I explained that perhaps I was more creative before I started writing computer software but I must have lost it.

Hunter turned to me with his eyebrows drawn together and asked, "so you are telling me you don't have it anymore?"

"I guess I'm trying to rediscover it", I replied.

"Well I can help you with THAT!", he exclaimed. He immediately started rummaging through a cloth satchel and produced a bluish-green plastic zip-lock baggie filled with pistachio nut shells. He took one out and laid it on the table in front of me.

"I have a solution for those who tell me they have never had it, can't get it, have lost it or can't find it but really would like to have it. So I'm going to give it to you to keep as a reminder that if you ever get into a situation where you begin to think you don't have it, all you have to do is take this in your hand, stare at it for a little bit until you begin to realize that in fact you really do have it. Now that you have it, you have to decide what you are going to do with it and that's it in a nutshell".

After Hunter passed on, his family did something that absolutely floored me. I happened to be at their home one day when his wife Mary handed me the baggie which still contained some of Hunter's handmade creations. "You are now the official keeper of it in a nutshell", she declared. I not only felt she had handed me a legacy but a responsibility as well.

Since then I have determined that these little items really embodied much of what Hunter was all about. His love for making use of words, his creative spirit and the production of objects that express the embodiment of those concepts. Not only that, each object becomes a symbol of the passion Hunter had to encourage everyone he met to exercise their creativity by producing something to uplift the spirit of others.

So that little blue-green baggie travels with me just about everywhere now. I jump at the opportunity to use them just as Hunter did with me. It is fascinating to watch the effect the presentation has on each recipient.

The supply of Hunter's originals is starting to run low and it will soon be time to get busy and make more. I know that is ok with Hunter's family and I'm sure Hunter himself would approve. After all, he had encouraged me to follow his example.

"The only way to make sure you have it is to create and give away as much of it as you can", he explained that morning.

So it is my duty to give as much of it as I can where needed and to bring it to full circle, I encourage you to do the same. Any type of nutshell will work to contain it so be a little creative. The photo above will get you started.

If you are unfamiliar with Hunter's poetry, let me share one of his poems with you in order to get your creative juices flowing.

Windy Laundry
by Hunter Ingalls

Legs and pockets and socks and arms
wave hooray! at towers of grain
three miles east. The wind's alarms
extend yesterday's celebrations of rain,
moist feasts in the dark for thirsty farms
and dustbinned brains. Ah, the charms
of high plains living, where vigorous winds,
vagabond stars, immodest moon and strenuous sun
re-align the day, the land, the mind, with origins
perhaps designed by an Omnipotent One
or Two... which numeration begins
effable tangles... of torsos and legs and arms,
pockets, socks, underpants and handkerchiefs
flapping and spinning in gusty games
of "let's invent"-- primal paradigms
of original, irwriggular meaning:
Life in motion. Perception. Communication.
Signs of the times, flailings of grace
between the home and the marketplace.

Now it is up to YOU to decide what to do with "it". And that's about it in a nutshell.

Thanks for your creativity and inspiration Hunter!