10 years is a LONG time....

I was told I had to get my passport picture today for my trip coming up at the end of Feburary. Which wouldn't have been that big of a deal because thankfully I have been trying to get myself back into some type of normal sleep pattern and therefore making myself get up early so I don't have nights like last night where I toss and turn for 2 hours before I fall asleep... which means I straightened my hair today and looked somewhat presentable for a simple passport photo. But if I had known the day before I would've been sure to put on a shirt which brought out my skin tone and eyes as well as actually done myself up a little... yes I am a picture snob. It's a flaw of mine... one of the thousands. So sue me. But like I said, I was fairly content because I had at least tamed my beastly hair and straightened it this morning. After all it's just a passport picture right?

Well those were my sentiments while talking to the photographer during my photo sesh (that's what us model type people call a photo shoot). I stood up straight, made sure I didn't have any double chins and smiled away. He took a couple shots and then he stopped...

"this is for your passport isn't it?"

"yes, why?"

"you're not supposed to smile."

hmmmm. I'm not sure why you're not allowed to smile in passport pictures but I complied and tried to figure out a way to semi smile without actually smiling. Right. That went over about as well as a a whale swimming in a bathtub. He took one shot and showed it to me. I wanted to say "delete it and take another," like we do at home when taking "candid" shots to fill our walls with memories but I didn't want him to think I was vain, so I swollowed my pride and said "Thanks!" I thought about it and convinced myself that it wasn't a big deal, it's only a passport picture.

Ralph (the photographer) brought the pictures by later and I continued the mantra, "it's just a passport picture, it's just a passport picture," as I brought it up to our processing directorate within our building. I sat with Larry (my processor) and chatted while he went through all the paperwork. He hadn't seen my picture at this point and he jokingly said "I hope you like you picture because you'll have it for the next 10 years!" great. Thanks for the encouragement, Larry. Does the phrase cruel and unusual punishment mean anything to you? Well, it is what it is... at least for the next 10 years. Here I am, in all my non-smiling glory...

10 years of this?!?! REALLY? awesome.