Behold the author at age two, picture taken by a professional photographer circa 1974. To this day I can’t believe my mom agreed to pay for copies. I do understand the parental compulsion to save memories and moments of our offspring’s precious childhoods. Judging by my scornful expression, I gather this was a day in my life better off forgotten. I’d hate to see the rejected takes.
This expression also sums up my mood for too much of today — a poisonous mixture of mandatory overtime in unhealthy, sleep-depriving amounts; stupid chronic muscle pain; a block’s worth of trudging through a nasty downpour without rain gear or even a jacket; and capped with a surprise medical bill from an office visit fifteen months ago. It was the kind of day that inspires little creativity and copious moping if I allow it to consume me. Ibuprofen and caffeine in varying doses soothed to limited extents, as did my wife’s usual daily abundance of kindness. She’s nifty like that.
I’d tried to lift my own spirits throughout the day with songs in my head, but every time I tried to work my way through a verse of something happy and innocuous such as, say, “I’ve Got the Joy Joy Joy Joy”, the recording stored in my head was somehow corrupted, replacing the innocent children’s choir with Fred Durst from Limp Bizkit. The song isn’t nearly as uplifting if the chorus ends with 1990s-era Durst yelling, “DOWN IN MY HEART TO STAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!” The mental image concludes with him slamming his mic on the ground while an alarming aneurysm looms within his bulging forehead vein.
Tonight, then, was all about downtime for balance — sitting back, refusing to furrow my brow, reading the works of others, avoiding any articles containing the words “Jodi Arias”, and unwinding with selections from Bloc Party’s A Weekend in the City as aural soundtrack instead of the mental soundtrack that the day kept easily disrupting. Digging out a verse for focus helped, too — “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12).
Sometimes a moment to recoup lost energy and humor is necessary. Lord willing, I’ll have time enough tomorrow to try again and do better. I should also see about having that baby picture redacted from my timeline.
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Midlife Crisis Crossover! 
love your blog
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Thanks!
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It’s been going around.
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I did see your entry about that the other day, but I don’t think I caught it from you. Just the same, maybe inoculations are in order?
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Where’s a cootie shot when you need one? Love that photo of the younger you btw. Moms are great at preserving those priceless Kodak moments. I have several mad/sad/tantrum pics of our kids.
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I’m sure I have a few pics of my own son that he’ll regret if I ever take them out of hiding. I just don’t understand why my mom paid for this one. Including the 8-by-10. Which she framed and displayed in our living room. This is the me she wants to remember for all time?
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Do you have any younger siblings? Just Sayin’.
Seriously, if the photo was taken at a Sears or Penny’s studio, I can see how your mom might have been pressured to purchase a package. When my son was a toddler we went in for one of those “free 8×10” offers. Of course, the best photo was the “free” one.
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I’m certain it was a department-store package deal. We didn’t have a lot of spending money back then, so I suppose I can chalk it up to the hypnotic allure of a “SALE!” sign.
I’m an only child. Maybe that only intensified the desire for me-based merchandise…
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Poor you, maybe you need a leopard print ironing board cover to cheer you up! I’m surprised you didn’t comment on my top-of-the-line Rowenta iron; I mean, who irons anymore anyway?
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My grandma taught me a little about ironing. We even own a twenty-year-old iron and an ironing board…which we keep around here somewhere. Um, in the garage, I think? If I ever find myself expecting a situation in which nicely creased pants will make a difference, I’ll be all set!
(I’m, uh, kinda fashion-challenged…)
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I saw your twin on jeopardy tonight. I really think you should audition. You’d make a zillion dollars and then you could get your slacks creased by the dry cleaners! ha ha
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I dream of a life where I’m a regular customer at the dry cleaners! That’s when I’ll know I’ve made it at last. 😀 That’s kind of you to mention Jeopardy! (my wife and I are occasional viewers), but I have waaay too many knowledge gaps. History categories alone would destroy me.
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