When I heard that Clay Morgan and Leanne Shirtliffe were playing “School Photo Day,” I decided to get in on the action. But as I sifted through my class pictures and yearbook photo ops, I had trouble choosing. Should I go with one from the “I look like a bowl-headed boy” era, or from the huge selection of “my big-hair and eyebrows are battling for camera time” decade?
Instead, I opted for a blurry candid from the “normal”…day. It’s one of my favorites, actually, and not because I’m rockin’ the plaid like no other, or because of the hot ride in the background. No. It’s because of secrets.
Here’s my choice (I’m the shorty in the middle):
This picture was taken on the first day of first grade at my new school. The girl on the left looks like she’s leaning in to tell me something very important (we will disregard the fact that she also appears to be digging for gold). It’s not clear if I’m listening or in some polyester-induced haze, but I’ve always wondered: What was she saying?
Presumably, we didn’t know each other very well, and even though little girls can become BFF’s in the time that it takes to link pinkies and spit, this seems like more of a conspiratorial conversation.
Was she sharing insider information on our teacher?
“I’ve heard Mrs. Lawrence uses chinese water torture.”
Was she telling me about one of our new classmates?
“Lice. Definitely lice.”
Or, was she disclosing “da rules” of the school?
“One bathroom break. One. I recommend withholding fluids.”
Whatever she said, I look worried.
I can remember being a little nervous that day — walking to school with butterflies bouncing around from stomach to throat, and clutching that brown envelope of “very important papers” like it held the Strawberry Shortcake doll I had been longing for all my life.
Yes, for some reason, I don’t think she was sharing a funny story. If only I could remember…
Still, I love these kinds of pictures — where you’ve captured something unstaged and in the moment. So much better than the cheesy grins and uncomfortable stares. These types of pictures are puzzles. They are stories.
They are secrets shared.
******
And, so you don’t worry that I was too serious for a six-year-old, here’s a better representation of my normal state during childhood:
Thank goodness for the nose job.
*****
If you have a blog or website, feel free to post your own picture and link up here, or at any of the participating sites. Have fun!
Find me on Twitter @amandahoving
SOUNDS fun.
I have to hop around and check this out.
I love finding cool new things.
Have you seen the “write your own tombstone?”
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I have, but I think I may be too superstitious for that kind of prompt.
I hope you participate in this one — would love to see what you come up with!
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🙂
I love pictures of people as littles.
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I find it fun, too. However, some of my other pictures might have frightened readers away.
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Awwww, you were sooo cute! Although, in pic one you do look worried, as you say. I’m debating if I want to join in the fun! Now I’ll go check the others!
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Thank you, Julia, and definitely join in!
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What a great picture, and great idea for a blog post!!! If I only weren’t so paranoid about my picture on the internet, I might give it a go. In fact, perhaps I could get over my paranoia for just one blog post… 🙂
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Thank you regarding the picture, and yes, Leanne is the mastermind of this fab prompt.
If you post an early-enough picture, no one of present-day would even recognize you. I say, go for it!
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Great pics and love the perspective. Nice twist on School Photo Day. Also, thanks for helping a few more people understand my crossdressing past. Apparently I don’t have secrets like the little gold digger in plaid.
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I will spread word of your crossdressing past to the masses. It must be heard!
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I think my favorite part of that picture (other than how adorable all three of you were!) is the gleam of light coming from the fabulous tan/beige/brownish/yellowish station wagon in the background (Chevy Kingswood Estate?). Stylin’.
I love the stories that pictures tell and I also love the idea that these stories are secrets that even the people in the picture don’t always remember.
Great photos, great post! Mine’s over at http://asalinguist.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/a-portrait-of-the-linguist-as-a-young-dorky-girl/
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Thank you for stopping by, and for your thoughtful comments — I’ll pop over to your place in a minute.
Yep, there’s no missing that car!
Oh, and I should mention that the cute little girl on the right and I eventually became very good friends, and still are today 🙂
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How cute are you. But truth is, I can’t stop looking at the car in the background. That sets the scene, doesn’t it!
Thanks for playing. Great write up.
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Thank YOU for the opportunity to join in, Leanne. Great idea!
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I loved this story, Amanda! You were so cute in your little jumper!
Here’s mine: http://writerwoman61.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/school-picture-day-junior-band-2/
Wendy
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Ah, thanks, Wendy! I loved your band story, too.
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Amanda – That is a fantastic twist on School Picture Day, sharing the story of a moment – and I never can resist a Strawberry Shortcake reference. 🙂
Thanks for joining us for School Picture Day! http://keeniebeanie.blogspot.com/2011/06/school-photo-day-oh-horror.html
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I would love to have a Strawberry Shortcake doll now to keep under my pillow…smells so nice…
Thanks for visiting, and for co-hosting!
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Love this post. So glad I finally made it over here. You are too cute. And the nose job is barely noticeable. 😉
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The doc does good work.
Thanks for reading!
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This made my night. How very dear an image. And to know a Strawberry Shortcake doll fits in to the picture. Do you know I found my sister’s doll the last time I was home and the dern thing STILL smelled? And, oh yeah, I inhaled.
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I think to NOT inhale would have been criminal. 😉
I would love to see what kind of School Photo Day post you would come up with, Erika…
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Amanda, you’ve got quite the imagination! I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to conjure up such possibilties for this conversation. Love it! This school photo day has been a blast and a great way to connect to new folks.
I posted about the glorious marching band days: http://www.newlifecalu.com/?p=734.
Thanks for sharing your memories!
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Thank you, Kim. I had fun reading about your marching band days. I feel like I missed out!
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Cute pics. I sometimes look at photos and wonder what those people were thinking/feeling/saying.
That car is ginormous.
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Thanks, Medeia! I think pictures can be great for story prompts on particularly uninspiring days.
That car is actually a boat.
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I like the idea of letting these photos spark the imagination. It’s great fodder for generating stories. Good suggestion.
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I think it’s fun to try and recreate the scene. Thanks, Jackie!
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Holy Catholic school girl uniform!
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No. We just showed up in the same outfit. Major fashion faux pas. 😉
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I loved the pictures and your story. I especially liked the last one (before your nose job ;))
You are much braver than I am – all of my childhood pictures will remain hidden. My awkward phase (between birth and sixteen years) must not be seen by anyone!
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I have plenty of never-to-be-revealed pictures, Janna. Trust me.
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Great post and photo! I found myself looking at all the surroundings and wondering who was driving, living in the house on the other side, etc. Next time I make my way to my folks, I will have to dig around some old pictures.
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And I hope you’ll write about them, too…
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Hi, Amanda! I have given you the Irresistibly Sweet Blog award. Check it out here: http://maasmith7.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/the-irresistibly-sweet-blog-award/
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Thank you!
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Amanda, I always love your posts! I love delving into pictures for their stories, and I am a big fan of the candid, rather than posed. Thanks!
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Thank you, Lisa — you’re sweet.
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I bet the gold digger was trying to convince you to explore your own nose. “If two of us are doing it in the picture, it looks normal.”
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I’m glad she failed to convince me.
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You are super cute, that’s all I know. With and w/out the nose job.
I love old photos. And I feel certain that the secret has to do with cooties.
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What a lovely photo of you and your friends on your first day of school. I actually prefer those photos where no-one knows that some one is taking a photograph…people don’t look as if they’re having their photo taken..and more ‘real’, life like I suppose. Their expressions are far more realistic in my mind.
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Awwww, you’re adorable. Love the uniform. Wish my kids’ school had them. You’ve made me nostalgic now . . .
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haha! funny post. You’re a cutie-pie in that picture!
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Oh, Amanda … this made me laugh out loud (loudly). I love your sense of humor and I love the idea of pulling out old childhood photos. Mine are all with my mom in PA; I must request some of them. I’m fascinated by the things we can capture in photos – they provide so much inspiration for our writing minds!
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Thanks for your kind comments, all. You are all welcome to join in. (Would love to see some of your pre-blogging faces 😉 )
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