- Dear Husband normally hates posing for photos, but he will begrudgingly agree to smile at the camera if I am with him.
- The internet is forever, so I will be able to access these photos a decade or two or three from now and then sigh in resignation about how marvelous I looked in 2025.
- Looking back at old photo albums, I see countless photos of my children and my husband, and so few snapshots of me. That’s because I WAS THE ONE who always remembered to bring the camera out and to use it. I really was there at all those family events, yet there is little proof. Admittedly, those clunky cameras and camcorders of the 1990s didn’t really make it easy to turn the lens on oneself but still! I was younger and thinner and blonder–does anyone remember that? Well, now I can take care of my bitterness (and my vanity, I suppose) and take countless selfies of me, myself, and I. So there.
- My awkward smiles, jowls, and wrinkles should make the rest of you feel really good about yourselves and the way you look. You’re welcome.
- My offspring laugh at these shots, and probably occasionally roll their eyes. It’s still my job to cheer them up, you know.
- And years from now, when I am gone from this world, but since the internet is forever, my offspring can reminisce about how awesome their parents were, and about how much they miss their mom in particular. (Polish mother guilt transmitted from the grave!)
- I paid a lot for my iPhone, so I might as well use it.
- Taking selfies on a regular basis keeps my photography skills sharp. And writing about the adventures that go along with the selfies should keep my brain sharp. I could write an article about this for AARP Magazine!
- I guess I want all of you to feel a bit jealous of our life as a retired couple.
- Sometimes it just feels good to stretch my arms all the way out.
Monica Lists 