Copco Lake, California (CNN) — Five friends’ celebrated photo taken every five years at the same California lake is out for the world to see despite one man’s recent cancer scare.
Some of the guys openly feared it could be a photo of four friends this year instead of the five first pictured as teenagers.
“I was crushed,” said John Dickson, who lives in Santa Barbara where the friends first met. “We worried there would be an empty spot on the bench where we take the picture.”
Dallas Burney, seated in the middle of the series of photos that replicate the poses of the very first shot, told CNN he had a large cancerous tumor removed from his left leg in 2019.
“My cancer — liposarcoma, I knew something was wrong for many months,” said the elementary school teacher.
“I was out of school for five months. I can’t run anymore, but I sure can walk.”
Burney walked with ease around Copco Lake on Tuesday evening with Dickson, Mark Rumer-Cleary, Jon Molony and their host, John “Wedge” Wardlaw.
They had not all been together since the last photo in 2017. Burney’s cancer and the pandemic made reunions difficult.
But first, food
John “Wedge” Wardlaw fries tacos Tuesday night in his protective gear.
Paul Vercammen/CNN
So they gathered the night before the photo was taken for their other five-year tradition — feasting on “Wedge” tacos.
Wardlaw stuffs meat into hard taco shells and pan fries them so hot, he wears a glove and safety glasses to protect against spatter.
The jokes flew.
“Salt is the main ingredient,” laughed Wardlaw.
“We’ll all be drinking water at midnight,” said Molony.
“And #@$! the cardiologist,” quipped Rumer-Cleary.
Two of the friends with a window view rose out of their seats.
“Bald eagle,” they exclaimed.
The majestic bird, with its trademark white head, looped above the cabin, as if to lend the scene pomp and circumstance.
Other animal sightings on Tuesday included a bobcat, deer and cattle.
Taco dinner 2022. Another tradition for the five friends.
Paul Vercammen/CNN
The friends, often talking in quick bursts over each other, pointed out Oregon was across the lake.
40 years of tradition
By midday Wednesday, it was time for the main event.
They took the latest picture on a 79-degree day worthy of a…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at CNN.com – RSS Channel – App Travel Section…