The Photo Project

So that Jen on the Edge challenged us to a Photo Project. The upshot: post pictures of ourselves without apology. For some folks this meant getting on the other side of the camera (because if your family is anything like mine, your photo album makes your family look like mom never went on a single family vacation, never had a birthday and missed all the Major Holidays). For others this meant stifling their urge to point out their flaws (There I am at the beach with all the hairs on my chin highlighted by the sun in the background and my pudgy thighs showing!).

Now I had the distinct advantage of some Book Launch Events for which I made the effort to look nice, so most of my pictures are from that. To be fair, I threw in a couple others that reveal a less polished side. I got a new camera for Christmas and haven't got it set up to download photos yet from the holidays so here's what I managed to obtain:

Second row, far left, looking weary of all the karate hoopla. This was taken after I earned my 2nd degree black belt. Note my partner has a similar expression on his face.

Self-portrait while driving.

At the Appleton book launch describing my work to the assembled crowd (I'm wearing a headset).
Me on the right in pink sweater---closest to a full-body shot that I could find.

Here I am posing, and thanks to my Bumble Book Club pal, Robin, for taking lots of pictures for me!

Reader, even if you didn't take Jen's challenge, I hope you put your best face forward in 2012. We're all beautiful and we owe it to our families and loved ones to document our own lives--even through pictures. Jen's challenge really made me think about what my kids will have left of me someday when I'm dead. I want them to have pictures to remember me by, to show to their children and grandchildren. To that end, I'm passing the camera to other people and getting in the shot more often!

Spill it, reader. Are you with me?

Posted in: quit hiding and smile