The Earth According to Popi – Can You See It?
I’m Michael K. Hurder. My grandkids call me Popi.
This is not a store. It’s my notebook. Photos from the field and thoughts on current events, told the way I see them.
I was born in Boston in 1951, drafted after high school, and served in Vietnam as a Scout Dog Handler with the 1st Cavalry Division. That experience shaped how I look at the world – closely, quietly, and with respect for what is often overlooked.
After a career in field service that took me all over, including long stretches in Clonmel, Ireland, I retired and went back to school for photography. The Bay Area, the coast, Ireland, wildlife when it lets me close enough – that’s what I chase with a camera.
I also write about what’s happening now. As a veteran, a grandfather of five, and a member of VFW Post 7265, I have opinions, but I try to lead with curiosity and tell a story, not shout.
I post new photos and new writing as Blog Posts. My personal favorites go in the Slideshow. If an image or a story makes you pause for a second longer – then you did see it.
Yours always, Popi
Come on in and enjoy yourself. The fare for this ride is a smile. That’s it.
This is Popi’s Home.
Culture Art – by Cody Martin
Michael K. Hurder (Popi)
These details about Michael K Hurder are current to Spring, 2026: I was born in Boston in 1951 to a hard-working blue-collar family. After high school, I was drafted into the U.S. Army and served a tour in Vietnam as a Scout/Patrol Dog Handler with the 1st Cavalry Division. Due to injuries sustained there, I am now a 100% Disabled Veteran. I stay active with VFW Post 7265 in Livermore; CA. I also take part in several MWD-related organizations. These include the Vietnam Dog Handler Association and the Military Working Dog Heritage Museum, among others. Much of my personality reflects that time in the Army. This journey is about my dedication and service.
If you take a minute to read about the MWD program, I guarantee you won’t look back. Click those links up there.
Author at the War Dog Memorial, Riverside, CA – 2020
I’d been wary of visiting War Dog memorials. Until 2020 I stayed away for fear of how it would affect me. Even as late as that I still wasn’t okay with having what I felt inside be so visible on the outside. I much preferred anonymity. In 2018 I attended a reunion of K9 handlers from the Vietnam era. It was the beginning of big changes in me and my life. I completed my memoirs only because of this breakthrough.
Woof, Prince!
K9 still leading the way.
A saint found me in 1977 and married me, and that’s why I’m still here. She saves me every day. We have three remarkable children, and they have gifted us with five extremely remarkable grandchildren – who named me Popi – ages 9-mos through eighteen years. We moved to California in 1987 when a better employment choice presented itself. Being honest, I have to admit the move away from Boston (which I love more than any city or place) was intended to get me back to being a normal human away from all the temptation I’d grown up with to act out, and do as I please just to spite someone or some entity that I presumed was giving me ‘the business’. The Saint stuck it out and kept bringing me back to earth. I tell the folks at AA meetings that I am fortunate to have two higher-powers. One that I call, ‘God‘. And the other I cal, ‘Yes, dear‘. You could say,”She is life”. There’s nothing without her in it.
Career and Travel
After my tour of duty and physical recovery, I found my niche in Field Service and the Technical world. My wanderlust was fed adequately with all the work-related travel, some of it international. Towards the end of my career, I spent most of my work time in Ireland. My historical appetite was well fed and a renewed interest in photography was born. Who wouldn’t try to capture the charm and beauty of such a place as Ireland? I was away from the often-overwhelming hustle and bustle of the US. I enjoyed a calm in Clonmel that I had not felt since high school.
Once retired, I returned to school. I wanted to further my photography skills. Imaging has always been a lifelong passion, but I have only recently fully embraced it. I’ve been told I am gifted with talent and vision. My mission is to share that vision.
‘For the seekers, the dreamers, and the connoisseurs of life’s hidden beauty, Popi’s Pic’s is an invitation to view a piece of this extraordinary world through my eyes. Whether you find solace in a serene landscape or seascape, thrill in the dynamic sprawl of a cityscape, seek the awe of wildlife in its rawest form, or just read a good book; here is one place where your search can end for a time. Explore my collections and find your own connection with the art that speaks to you, without uttering a single word.‘– Yours always, Popi
All photos and writing are mine, some images noted as AI-generated or public domain.
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