Picture This!

I often write about the ‘70s because I think that was the most remarkable decade of my life. It was during that period of time when situations changed almost daily, I thought I was invincible, and I swore I knew more than anyone else in the world – you know, my twenties.

I have two lists that I will probably someday post – one is my list of things I hated about the ‘70s and the other of course, would be the list of stuff I loved and miss about that decade. For today, I want to reminisce about one of my favorite memories back then – my sisters.

My sisters (three – all older) and I were very close then … not only in proximity, but also in heart. We all had our own ‘stuff’ going on, yet we always managed to make time for the family gatherings at our parents’ house for holidays and birthdays. Of course, trying to get all of us to agree on times and dates was no picnic, but somehow, it usually worked out in the long run.

While reading through blogs this morning, I came upon a post written by Wicked H that truly struck a familiar chord. She and her sisters were preparing to have a professional photo taken for their parents’ upcoming birthdays. We did this too in the late ‘70s and what a fun memory it made.

We agreed (which was a small miracle) on a time and place, and all we had to do was show up, sit and smile, and be done with it ~ as IF it could have been quite so simple.

Let me bring you back into the studio on that Saturday morning.

Janet (J), Lynn (L), Susan (S) and Carol (Hag) all arrived within minutes of one another. No one had discussed color schemes or clothing beforehand, and what happened was right out of a Stephen King novel. We showed up wearing the same style blouse; the only differences were subtle lace arrangements and colors.

Now one might think this would evoke some chuckles and back patting, but nay! I’m talking about me and my sisters here.

L: Oh my GOD. I had no idea you’d all be wearing those blouses.
J: How could you know? What do we do now?
S: Well I’m NOT coming back here again and there’s no time to change, so we’ll have the picture taken and get it over with.
Hag: Okay, but they’ll never believe we didn’t plan this.

S: Wait. What color is the backdrop going to be because I’m wearing black and there’s no way it will show up against a dark setting.
L: Well I look too washed out with light colors.
J: You should have thought of that when you picked out a blouse.
L: So what are you saying? You don’t like the color of my blouse?
J: (eyes upward) Well listen to yourself! You said you wash out in light colors and your blouse is light blue.
Hag: Let’s ask Jack (the photographer/friend of mine) what he has available.

Jack: Looking perplexed and well … SCARED at this point. “The choices are a marbled blue, marbled green, solid black, white, powder blue or dark blue – and please don’t ask me what I think because there’s no way in hell I’m shuffling THAT deck of cards.”

L: I know. Let’s all stand in front of each of them and see which looks better!
S: No. That won’t work because we’ll never agree. I’ve already said no black or dark blue for me. You guys work it out.
Hag: I think the darker blue is nice BUT clearly that’s been voted out by now (sneering at Susan).
J: I look pretty good in front of any color so don’t involve me.

S: Well I say we go with white.
Hag: I hate white backgrounds. It will fade out the rest of us … Susan, you will stand out like a sore thumb.
L: Yeah! White’s no good at all. Carol and I are blonde … do you KNOW how badly that will show up against white?
J: Well Lynn, nobody told you to color your hair. Besides, it’s just a picture for Pete’s sake … let’s just get it DONE.
L: (to Jack) Why did you have to have choices? You should have only ONE backdrop so this doesn’t happen.

And Jack throws up his hands and exits the room.

S: If you use black, I’m leaving.
Hag: Figures.
L: Nobody has to leave! How about the powder blue?
Hag: I thought the marble look was nice. The green marble!
J: I’m not saying another word till you guys decide, (looks at watch) but I have another appointment in an hour and I’m not missing it.

Enter Jack …

Jack: (gingerly) Um … ladies? For the sake of maintaining what little sanity I have left … can I interject?
Sisters: (looking at Jack like he just kicked a dog) What?

Jack: Generally, the darker blue looks richer … AND … the black blouse will show up just fine if we place Susan in the forefront.
Susan: Me… in the forefront? I must admit that sounds like a clever thing to do.
L, J and Hag: (audible sighs and with eyes up to the sky) Okay … we’ll try it.

Now for the pose ~ though admittedly this musical chair activity evoked many chuckles and nudges … it took about four roles of film before finishing the shoot.

When the proofs arrived (to me), I chose my favorite one almost immediately. Janet, Lynn and I were all seated on studio chairs, legs folded showing off our skinny angles and hot shoes; Susan was seated on the floor just in front of us and her damned black blouse was neither faded nor prominent.

To save a lot of writing (on my part) and reading (on your part), let me just say that the seated shot was not the photo that was finally decided upon. The one we all agreed (?) upon for our parents is below.

In order of age … Janet (the elementary school principal) sits to the right and has rich dark hair; Lynn (the NYPD retiree) is seated next to Jan; Susan (the clown) sits in the front, and I think you all know that used-to-be-skinny-but-looks-nothing-like-that-anymore lady standing in the back.

The smiles are pretty much the same now, but three-plus decades later, the sisters are not. Neither is the closeness … which I often miss even more than the perfect size-seven clothes.