Pink Think: “It’s funny looking at yourself. You know how it is when you look back at old pictures?” – Jennifer Connelly, actress
I’m paying at the cash register of a salon, and hand the employee my credit card. She asks for my driver’s license and I give it to her.
She looks at it for one long moment, then at me, looking confused.
“Is this a friend?” she asks, in all seriousness.
***
She rings me up, but I am shaking my head, still smiling at the mistaken identity. Okay, so in my driver’s license I am very suntanned, about ten pounds heavier, and my hair is pulled back.
I remember that day, about three years ago. It sticks in my mind because my oldest, Sierra, was still getting physical therapy for her damaged nerves, and the driver’s license bureau was just the next building over.
I didn’t need to smile. They never make you smile for driver’s license and passport photos. Which is weird because, well, let’s hope we don’t all go around like zombies. But I smiled for this one, and I still didn’t look like myself apparently.
***
Okay, guys and gals. Whip out your driver’s license and tell me what you see. Friend, foe…? Or “Who’s that shmoe?”
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I look absolutely deranged. It’s terrifying.
Mine’s not nearly as bad as I remember it being. My eyes are a little squinty and is that make-up I’m wearing? I never wear make-up! My hair’s a lot darker . . . Excuse me, I just need to nip up to the store for some hair dye.
The hardest part of moving to Texas was giving up my Utah license. Not because I was overly attached to the state, but it was the one and only license I’ve ever had where the photo looked good!
I’d been working out, weighed 185, had a good tan, and a reasonable amount of hair. And it was the license I got with my motorcycle endorsement.
My Texas card is OK. I look tired and heavy, with a bad rosacea outbreak on my cheeks, but I’ve looked worse.
There are only 2 pictures of me that have ever turned out well.
One is my high school graduation photo.
The other was taken for a Christmas card; I was five months old and eating my dress when they snapped the shot.
So, yes, my driver’s license and passport photos are ugly, but I’m not much to look at anyway, and they’re only a shade worse than everything else. I just try not to look, and I’ve had years of practice.
My photos are okay. I know I’m not photogenic under the ebst of circumstances so I don’t expect much from DL photos š
Hey, I added you to my blog roll. I hope you don’t mind.
All I am seeing is the weight and it’s DEFINITELY not one that matches my current one š
Q: *deranged* is how I look most days when I have been up since 6 and still in my jammies just right before I have to pick up my daughter. š
Firecat: I’m not sure make-up makes much difference in my photos, either.
Don: Hey that’s doing pretty good when you have a good DL from any state!
PW: I wouldn’t be so down on yourself; I don’t think those docs are meant to translate into glamour shots š
Marivic: I’ve seen your photos…I don’t know what you’re talking about :-).
Of course I don’t mind…thanks.
Colby: Mmm…makes me think that the DL isn’t really meant to be accurate at all, is it?
EEK!!! I haven’t looked at mine since I got it….let’s just say i’m SO glad I renew it next year so I can have a different pic taken!! LOL
I had my drivers license updated a few months after my daughter was born and right in the worst part of that time when you lose all that hair. I look sickly. š
My hair is short, my bangs curled, I tried to smile and therefore look a little drunk because I”m also looking to the side where my new baby was in the car seat. I have bright lipstick–which actually looked okay–in a drunk sorta way. I am ten pounds heavier than I am now–but my baby was only three months old too. That reminds me I need a new one next year–thank goodness.
Ugh. My last driver’s license photo caught me on a humid day, which fluffed my naturally curly hair up quite a bit. Can you say afro? It was like a Bozo the Clown wig, but brunette.
I look….like a child. š I’m surprised they gave me one, now that I think about it. I am wearing a very very cute necklace, though. I wonder what I did with that one….
Christine: Welcome! That’s why we have the things in the cloudy plastic holders, so we don’t have to look at it too much š
Serena: Yeah, I remember that after-baby stage…
Josi: I can’t imagine you with short hair. Did you have sunglasses to push your hair back ?? š
Janna: When I used to live in the Philippines, I thought my hair was naturally frizzy.
Terra: Thanks for stopping by. Looking young, that’s got to be a plus.
Hi Pink Ink – I fortunately had a great employee taking my picture. In fact, she took it twice, saying, “oh, you won’t be happy with that first pose”. My picture actually looks like me. But, I’ve seen others and it’s like, “that doesn’t even look like you”.
Barbara: How lucky for you! š
It was a long line, and my photo shows I was not amused. Scary.
Tammy: No, not exactly like lining up for an amusement park ride, is it :-).
Friend.