Photos

We decided to go to CVS and get passport photos before going to the passport office.  I rounded up all the little people and dragged them with me to the store.  It was busy but the manager took us over to their pull-down screen and took care of us.

While waiting for the photos to process, I got to hear about Manager Mike’s travels.  He wanted to know where we were planning to go.  One thing led to another and he told me about some of his favorite places.  He lived in Spain for 3 years.  His kids speak Spanish fluently (although he does not).  He lived in Iceland for 3 years.  He said it is the best possible place in the world to go if you love nature.  He was there when the volcano erupted under the ice and broke part of the glacier free.  But my favorite bit?  He talked about new foods.  Being married to a foodie is turning me into one, so, of course, I wanted to hear about the food.  The two best meats he’s ever had in his whole life:

• Raw Whale. He said it tastes like the best steak you ever had, with a hint of fishy-ness.
• I kid you not.  Dog.  He said it was spiced so perfectly that he asked for more, even after he found out what he was eating.

I felt freer after I left CVS.  I had talked to a stranger.  I had practiced being an extrovert.  I love people; I just don’t always know how to interact with them.  But today, I did it.  And I made a new friend and had a really interesting conversation.

And the photos….welllllll…..

Kid 1: Wore a white shirt and had to put on her baby sister’s jacket to cover it.  Apparently white on white is a big no-no.

Kid 2: Laughed hysterically because Manager Mike told her she couldn’t smile for the photo.  She would make a serious face, then he would raise the camera up…and she would crack up.  Over and over.  She finally calmed down enough to get her photo taken.  The result: a death stare.  A super-creepy, I-want-to-punch-you death stare.  That’s her passport photo.

Kid 3: Tried to not-smile by puckering.  He had to re-take it.  She’s still puckering.  Oh boy.

Me: Well, truth be told, this dirty hippie didn’t wash her hair today, so you gets what you gets.

The photos all look like mug-shots, but at least we’ve tackled one small thing.