Back to School Empathy

I get back to school empathy anxiety. When I see school supply lists at Walmart I start to tense up. So this post is for students, teachers, and the empathetic veterans. The more people I meet the more I realize how different our experiences. I wore a uniform to school from Kindergarten to Senior year of High School. The one exception was once a year we were all given the privilege of dressing up for PICTURE DAY! This was something everyone looked forward to doing. Picture day seemed like a holiday at my school. I am sure the teachers felt the same way, because we could not accomplish anything in our non-uniform, rogue clothing. I am sure this day was also a nightmare for the photographers. Can you imagine the build-up for a photographer walking into a school with the expectation of capturing the best expression of about 500 kids of all ages one at a time in one day? Just a reminder, their clothes now make them feel like superheros... on red bull. My first grade experience encompassed all of this emotion. It was my first REAL picture day. I was so ready for center stage. I remember being one of the first kids in the school to get my picture taken. I arrived in the giant room with its special lights, gray backdrops, and mini emergency combs. I stood in the short line and then took my place on the magical spinning throne in front of the camera. I was ready! The creative photographer said "Lisa Pizza" to get me to laugh and well he succeeded. One month later the pictures were delivered to our classrooms. We could barely handle the anticipation of waiting for our name to be called. We just had to see our glorious pictures from the day we did not HAVE to wear uniforms. What does that day look like in picture form? Well, lucky for you and not so lucky for me I have the answer to that question. My picture basically says, "I have never heard anyone call me Lisa Pizza before...that is HYSTERICAL!" Upon viewing myself in reaction to "Lisa Pizza" I no longer thought of the photographer as a comedic genius. I have the unique ability to raise one eyebrow at a time. Unfortunately, it was captured at the worst moment possible. I was so frozen with horror that I missed the teacher explain about picture retake day. As if these two personal mishaps together were not enough I also lacked an older sibling. "Lisa" you say, "what does not having an older sibling have to do with anything?" Well the combination of the first two mishaps and the last uncontrollable circumstance leads me to tell you that... no not even my parents knew about picture retake day. When a few kids came to school not in uniform on a certain day and retook their yearbook picture it was like the nightmare was a reoccurring one. Needless to say I never had to participate in picture retake day in future years, because no photographer was going to make a fool out of me again. Past, present, and future picture day photos can find a friend in this yearbook picture disaster. To my classmates next to me in that yearbook...you're welcome! For your viewing pleasure: 

Blessings & Raised Eyebrows (at the appropriate time),

Two Funny:

The Queen of Comedy, Lisa Belluomini

&

The First Lady of Comedy, DeAnn Alaine