WTH?!?!?

I figure that I will share this since I thought it was absolutely hilarious. Only in that way that sibling rivalry is funny. Actually, it wasn't rivalry so much as an attempt to embarrass me and my ability to cause said sibling concern and consternation.

Anyway, I recently celebrated a birthday, and I have to admit that I'm no longer a 20 something anymore. So, my pain in the a--, I mean my loving sister brought me a present while we were having dinner with the rest of my family. She encouraged me to open my present then and there. Out came a Sponge Bob beanie baby doll.

Being single and not having any children (nor any short term future plans for them since I am single), she earned the drop dead glare that siblings so eloquently develop to express themselves without getting into trouble with the parents. For a few days the darned thing sat in the trunk of my car. Until yesterday that is.

I was asked to photograph a group of pre-K and kindergarden students at a football game I was at. I needed all of them to smile while taking the picture. I knew that having some strange man asking you to smile isn't most conducive to getting such a smile. I was wracking my brain for a while until I saw that beanie doll in my trunk as I grabbed my camera. I put a rubber band around it and attached it to my flash.

It was an instant hit. I had all of the kids smiling and laughing at it as I took their picture. I was so glad I had the darned thing. In a moment of inspiration, I texted my sister with the message, "I want a Dora the explorer doll now." and left it at that. Later that day as the football game ended, I checked my phone and got the following messages: "What the hell?" and "Very confused. Why do you want a Dora doll?"

I almost fell down from laughing so hard. The fans in the stands all started to point at me and I didn't even care. It took me a solid five minutes to get a hold of myself to text her back with an explanation of why I needed such a doll. She responded with: "Oh, I was getting a little concerned there."

As I drove home, I couldn't stop chuckling every few minutes over her reaction. I could even picture in my mind the confused frown she had on her face. Even as I type this, I can't stop grinning nor the occasional snicker. Anyway, I hope that makes you laugh as much as it made me laugh.

Ask a child to smile for you

This job that I have now follows the Jewish holidays, so I have spent the last three days doing virtually nothing of note. Oh, I spent some time catching up on things I have put off (laundry) and simply enjoying the break from work. Best of all, knowing that when this short break is over, I do have a job.

I also had some time to read up on blogs I used to follow. I don't follow them anymore because of the whirlwind that has become my life since I started this job in August (not to mention the time I spent chasing jobs and going to interview after fruitless interview). Lots of reading, especially on some of the more active ones.

It came as a surprise to see how few of the ones I read regularly have simply stopped altogether. The ones that have moved on but stopped sharing what they've moved on to. I am saddened that life's trials keep them from participating. Or is it just that they don't care to share anymore?

I know how hard it is to keep writing, not knowing if anyone reads what I write or cares, for that matter, about what I choose to share. I often liken it to sending transmissions out into space and hoping someone will make some sense of it and say, "I am here!" No doubt an unconscious desire to hear that you have the attention of another person, if even for a short moment in time.

But the ones that really get me are the ones who have hit on hard times and chosen to share their often depressing news. After reading up on what they have posted, I have wanted to just reach out and give them a hug or something. Just to bring a smile back to their faces.

One of the joyous things about the job I have now as a child portrait photographer is to see every day angelic faces light up in smiles, just for the asking. I can't tell you how much of a buffer against the trying times I have had those smiles are. Sure the pay is terrible, the hours long, and you certainly get the uncooperative children. But to get smile after smile and know that there is no malice, ill intent or hypocrisy behind it is... The only word I can think of is beautiful.

I may suggest that these people do that. Ask a child to smile for you. It's free and it stays with you when times are bad.