Prompt and Circumstance

Sufferin' Selfie

'reflect' Mar.18, 2016

"Well, if you ask me," Kanute says, crinkling up the ends of his eyes and lifting the corners of his mouth with that familiar smile, "... we don't scrub up too shabbily for a pair of old 'popsies'".

I can't resist a chuckle that begins deep down inside – wherever it is that laughs start from – and demands attention by wobbling my chest and forcing my shoulders into a shaking forward curve. Without thinking twice, I translate 'Poor Old Pensioners' into the name 'popsies' we coined long ago. Well... when we became aged pensioners, anyway.

We're studying my computer screen and the blown-up image of the two of us – a photo taken last year when we had a little weekend getaway. And despite the silver locks, we look so delightfully amusing. Think it's going to become one of our favourites, although well down the list from our wedding photos when we were young... and gorgeous.

The amusing bit is that this is our second attempt at a 'selfie' – that fashionable trend of photographing yourself and plastering countless images around social media everywhere. Our first was somewhat of a disaster. Looked like a couple of old 'soaks', caught in a late-night moment that really didn't need recording, but what can I say? It seemed like a good idea at the time.

This time was different. Much, much earlier in the evening, this time – before the festivities began, and while we were still spruced up as best we can manage these days. Checked out the lighting in our getaway's ensuite bathroom and found it all warm and fuzzy – a most desirable choice for our time of life.

"Trouble is, our arms seem to be too short to get a decent distance away," Kanute says, and he shakes his head. "People use some stick thing you hold, with the camera perched on top somehow." He shakes his head again, and it's easy to see he's trying to imagine how this is achieved.

"I know. But I don't know, too... you know what I mean?" I twist my mouth and pull a stupid face at our reflections as I try to think of a solution.

"Hmm... I know. Just stand closer." And I hold the camera down low and tilt it up slightly, and CLICK. There we are recorded for posterity (and hilarity).

What we get, as a record of our Golden wedding anniversary, is a photo of us reflected in a mirror, with Kanute checking himself out behind his glasses, arm on my shoulder, and me looking down at the camera (oops - also clearly reflected). As far as 'selfies' go, surely most would consider it a dismal failure.

And yet... it's a truly lovely depiction of two Golden Oldies.

(Well, that's our opinion!)