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!

60 Sixty Sesenta Soixante or 10 x 6

It all boils down to the same thing. No matter in what language you say it. It's a milestone and I'm on top of it. Not going to shy away, I'm going to welcome it with open arms. After all, it beats the alternative!

So, on Sat. Sept. 20th we opened up our home to close friends and family to help me celebrate. They came, they ate, they drank but most of all, they MADE MY BIRTHDAY a very special day.

Barely running around, here I am in 1955 with my BIG brother Bruce and my very first doll, Susie.

Probably 6 years old here on the Mt. Brydges farm

A special day in my life. It took me three tries but I found my numero Uno!

Clemson, looking adorable for the camera. Another special find in my life.

Life goes on, we play, we work, we travel, we love and then we love to travel etc. etc. 

And the day comes when we wake up and realize that we are our parents' age. It doesn't feel like 60 years has passed because I don't feel much different. When I realize that I have worked at my job for over 31 years, I have to shake my head because it has gone by, really, in a blink.

Thank you for sharing my life with me. Whoever you are, you make a difference.

Life is good, no matter what age.

Thanks for dropping in, it's wonderful to see you!