WHERE'S THE TEETH?

The picture of Louise made me think of some, in fact, almost all of the pictures in our family albums when I was a child. Not that all the subjects were dressed up, but some were. Not that all the women relatives and friends of ours wore fur, but many did. And if one was wearing a fur stole, for instance, then why not snap a picture?

What it reminds me of is how serious the people looked. They rarely were captured smiling or having fun. Most looked as if they were off to see or had recently returned from a trip to the dentist. If they had just returned, they had refused to have their teeth blocked or numbed for the dental work. (As I once did. Few can comprehend that my first crown was done without any medication. I think my dentist friend was angry with me for eliminating him in the club championship. But no more. Never. If offered, I would take a shot for a cleaning.)

Not only my family's picture albums, but almost all the pictures I've seen from say 1920-1955 were that way. I know not all the people back then had bad teeth. So why didn't they smile? Times were tougher, yes, but picture taking time was often celebratory times marked by happiness. Yet the sober as a judge countenance.

Both of my grandmothers were always smiling and laughing as I remember, but you could never tell it by their pictures. Maybe cheesing wasn't the style back then. But most look better with a smile. Except Mona Lisa. Her attempted smile just sorta creeps me out.