Picture Day

Today is picture day at Maggie’s school. We all remember those school pictures that we wish we could have back. I set my own hair for picture day in the second grade and I get to see the evidence of that from time to time; that picture will not disappear. Many years Maggie’s pictures are just a joke. One year she looked like Steve Carrell on the 40-year-old Virgin ads, another she was falling over and her face was all contorted. Sure, I’ll pay $50 for those. Ok, I did buy the Steve Carrell ones. But the others, puhlease.

I cannot imagine being the school photographer. Hundreds of excited, nervous, bored or cool middle school kids, one after the other. The photographer has to get the entire school done in a single day. It’s rush rush rush. However, not every kid is ready for that and, inevitably, there are some lousy pictures. Even for those who do not set their own hair.

Many times Maggie is one of those kids. I understand that the world is not set up for the Maggie’s of this world. Nobody understands that better than I. Nevertheless, I just hope the photographer can take that extra moment for Maggie and her classmates. It makes a huge difference. Maggie cannot operate on a rush schedule for anything. She needs time to adjust to any new situation or person and the picture guy behind all his equipment is definitely different. In addition, excitement of the other kids makes it more difficult for her to acclimate to the situation.

Sometimes the pictures are great. It is just a crapshoot. She left this morning in a bright red shirt and a matching scarf and looked radiant. Of course, she has been scratching her face like crazy and there are scratch marks all over her forehead. Steve said she looks like she’s been hunting with Dick Cheney. Should be interesting. Keep a good thought.