Opening Words from Sun. February 5 by Maxine Stone
Hi everyone.
I have something special to tell you that will be happening at the Ethical Society. I don’t want to keep you in suspense, but actually I do want to keep you in suspense.
I’m a person who doesn’t much like my picture taken. Seems like just a few years ago I finally figured out how to pose and smile for a photo. Tilt your head a bit, full smile, think of something just wonderful. What is that just wonderful thing? Maybe an ice cream sundae, or a gorgeous sunrise or how lucky I am. Just a momentary positive flash and its done.
How about you? Have you ever had your photo portrait taken? Or a family photo? Those are the worst. I remember when my kids were young, and we wanted to get a family portrait done. Insufferably, one of my 3 kids would be in a funk and not cooperate.
Family photo number 1. Five people, all dressed for the picture and one mad, or grumpy, or hair not fixed, or clothes tattered.
Family photo number 2. All the kids are grumpy and no one wants to dress reasonably for it.
Family photo number 3. Someone is sick…really. And they can’t participate. And on and on to Family photo number 4, 5, 6. Invariably something would happen to make this experience not a happy one.
I was so envious of the families that all had the denim and white clothing, smiles everywhere and… maybe even on the beach! Ah, that’s family life! It’s always someone else’s family.
To be fair, after I was divorced, and my girls were all teens, we went to Hot Shots… the photo place, not the bar! There they dress you, fix your hair, and do your make up. The girls were delighted and the photos came out pretty darn good… Of course, each of them looks about 10 years older than they were. Me, I looked 10 years younger, of course.
OK, now for the something special that is going to happen at Ethical Society. Our own Society member and photographer extraordinaire, Jim Rhodes, will be doing what we are calling “Photos by Jim”. Jim is wonderful photographer and would like to capture any and all of you. His charges are a mere $10 for 10 minutes, and all of this money collected will be donated to the Ethical Society. Thanks for this, Jim.
Sign-ups are downstairs in the Becker room and will be for the next few Sundays. Dates of actual photo shoots will be March 5, 9, 12, and 19. Check out the table downstairs and find out more about this very generous offering by Jim.
Mmmm… Maybe I’ll just get my own photo taken, now that I know how to pose.