Thursday, January 29, 2015

SMILE! You’re on Candid Camera!

Remember that television show from the 60’s and 70’s? Allen Funt was the host, and although he always sounded so ‘dry’ and non-expressive in his voice on the phone calls, he hosted one of the funniest tv series of those times.

Allen Funt

The show was so good, they have brought it back with Allen's son, Peter Funt and Mayim Bialik. Perhaps you've seen it?



How often have you called out to your subjects when you are behind the lens “Smile!” and in your private thought repeat (“you’re on Candid Camera”)? I know I have.

I like to think in my adult age that most of my wrinkles come from smiling. (Don't correct me! Humour me!) I like to look for a smile from people. I'm not disappointed if I don't receive it, but it delights me when I do. I give them freely, as a means of greeting someone I don’t know, as a sign of recognition to everyone I do know or simply as a gesture to get someone else who doesn’t smile easily to respond in kind.

 smile - definition of smile by The Free Dictionary‎ 

 facial expression characterized by an upward curving of the corners of the mouth and indicating pleasure, amusement 

Some people need that encouragement. Some people, when no one is watching,  look like they are carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. I respect that, most of the time, but day after day after day?  I have to bite my tongue and restrain myself from approaching them and saying “It can’t be that bad, can it?” but I would never do that because maybe in their world, it is that bad at that moment. I will not judge them as I don't know what they are dealing with in their life.  Instead I just smile at them and hope it gives them some joy.

 If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it. —Andy Rooney

Funny thing about smiling though………..for me. I love to smile, it comes naturally, easily BUT when a camera is facing me and I am really trying to make the best of the resulting photo, I very seldom like how I look with that grin on my face!

It's a constant debate.                     Open mouth? Teeth showing? Playful?



My grandson, posing AND smiling.
Cheese!!


Laughing?
He's so darned cute!
 Tongue out? 

Smirking? Closed mouth?


                                                            Serious? 

                                                                                   
                                                                                            Dreamy?
Gotta love this little gapher.
Love love loves the camera!

Thanks Nate for helping Grandma out with those impressions!

With all the smiling I do, what’s with the wrinkles? Some are visible only to me in a close up mirror, but I can’t help but wonder why they don’t remain in an ‘upward curving’ instead…….when I am not smiling, always in that downward sagging crease! Good reason as far as I'm concerned to remain happy.
Happy, open mouth, teeth showing., laughing
All of the above!
 I didn't have time to think about this one
but I'll post it anyway

Why am I writing about smiling today? Two reasons......I like to write and I'm feeling good.

The new year has started out great. Things are going along very nicely these days. In my relationship with my husband, my family, my friends, work is smooth-going.
Happy Two
Yes, things are falling into place financially, goals in our retirement planning feel attainable, our new fifth wheel is gorgeous and everything we could ever need....yah, it’s all good.

Okay it isn't all perfect.....the weather isn’t making me smile, let’s be honest,
but it could be worse and there are only 52 days left until spring! ;)

My beautiful spring LILACS!

Bill and I smiling at Allen Funt? No joke here!


I hope you get a smile out of this when you read it. If only for a moment.

Have you smiled at someone today? It's contagious! And don't even get me on the subject of laughter!!!

 Thanks for stopping in!

10 comments:

  1. Gotta love smiling, and nice to see you guys do it too!

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  2. Love it dear. I know you don't always get the smile from me that you want, just know I am smiling from ear to ear on the inside.

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  3. You are truly beautiful, and as you are a 'smiler' that also helps. I have to make an effort sometimes...not because I am miserable, but because often I am thinking about something (OCD?). One time, a checker asked me if I was ok?...it made me feel bad, but it reminded me to make eye contact and smile regardless if I am solving the world's problems in my head! :) Did I miss pics of your new rig?

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    1. Aaah, thank you Maura. I, too, have asked people who look sad the same question and usually they explain that they are just in their own world so bang on what you said. ha ha. We haven't picked our new rig up yet so don't have our own pictures. If you checked out my husband's blog "On Our Way" at www.clembillpat.blogspot.ca he talks about it and provides a link with pictures. I can't wait to get it home the end of March!!!

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    2. Maura - I have a lot to learn on these blogs yet.........but first. I would love for you to check out my husband Bill's blog (above) but I have just learned (heh heh) how to put a link in my original post. If you wish to see our new rig, please click on the link at the bottom of my post. :)

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  4. Tulips? Hm. Up here in the Great White North, we call those things Lilacs, but to each his own. Keep on smilin'.

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    Replies
    1. Too funny, Bob! Thanks for catching that. Actually it was a test.........just wanted to see who was paying attention! :) I had a picture of tulips but they weren't from my own garden so it didn't feel real. Take care!

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  5. Great post sis...I am not always happy with pictures of myself in candid shots. Once when my dentist asked me what I would change about my smile, I told him I would rather it wasn't quite so wide...ha ha. We all have things about our looks that we would change if we had the chance...for example, I always think my eyes look "boogly" and too many teeth showing. Then I see pictures of people with poor teeth and squinty eyes and think that they are probably wishing for my look. In the end we all should learn to love ourselves the way we are, I know I have, along with the smile induced wrinkles.

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