Every once in awhile you have days that when you look at the pictures you took you realize how bizarre sometimes working for a small newspaper can be. I had to cover a funeral this morning for a prison guard killed in the line of duty. It was a sad day for many people and a very solemn event for others who weren't as close to the story, but respectful and connected in someway whether it was the brotherhood of law enforcement or public servants or just community people who felt for the family and friends of the victim. I left this very quiet assignment and went to cover a festival of trees where people could walk around looking at decorated trees all done by charitable organizations. The people here, in a community only about 8 miles away might not even be aware of the funeral just up the road with hundreds of law-enforcement officers in attendance. At this event was a Santa posing for photos with peoples pets brought in for christmas cards or just a holiday picture. There was this funny little Shih tzu who just didn't care for Santa until he began giving her doggy treats. It was funny and mundane and much different than the funeral. Then I went to a basketball game about 10 miles away and I noticed right away that most, if not all the people there were completely disconnected from what I was covering just a couple hours before. Days like this make me realize even more how distant we are from each other in such a small place, but at the same time watching all these law enforcement people show up from all over the state made me realize how close we are too in this big place. It is pretty surreal sometimes. Meadville Tribune photographs by Richard Sayer