These two pictures were taken approximately 30 years ago:

They were taken on an impulse, as often happens with photo booths. We inserted our coins and jumped into the box. My friend kept her two photos and I kept mine. It’s a miracle in itself that we both have our halves to this day and were able to match them up during a text exchange.

I had to laugh at the youth, innocence, makeup, and; of course, the hair. I look at the faces and marvel at all that has happened to those two girls over the decades. What would they think about what we have endured and have become? There is no way they could have known the hardships and successes they would experience. Would I tell them? Probably not.

I smile when I see my friend’s laughing face because I know for a fact I said something inappropriate to get her to laugh that way. I’m glad it was caught on film.

These two pictures were taken less than 30 days ago:

Clearly, I’m not as youthful but a hell of a lot wiser. Do I wish the young girl could have known what was ahead to make it easier for today’s me? Maybe —but it would have been indescribably selfish to sacrifice her innocence for my gain.

This is a different friend and, more importantly, I am still making inappropriate comments to my friends — during picture-taking and otherwise. While I love making my friends laugh, the truth is that I am incredibly uncomfortable having my picture taken and find that making a joke makes it easier somehow. I love knowing that I am the reason for their laughter in that precise moment so I’ll keep doing it if only because it makes me happy and, somehow, even makes me feel a little bit prettier in the picture.