Faces Like These

Astute, long time readers of this blog know that Mr. SP is famous for his charming faces.  Whenever I pull out the camera, he goes through a serious of poses, making the craziest, weirdest, yuckiest faces he can summon up.  It’s been going on for years, and years.

Earlier this fall Mr. SP was referred to the orthodontist for a consolation about some rotating teeth and some bite issues.  He reluctantly came to the consultation appointment, where they took X-rays, evaluated his teeth, and came up with a plan.  As a part of the evaluation they also photographed his teeth from various angles, and took a profile picture of Mr. SP, and a standard front head shot.  When the treatment coordinator placed the camera in front of her face, Mr. SP immediately , out of habit, started making a charming face, but then realized that this would not be a good time for a charming face.  The shutter caught him in the midst of changing his mind about the charming face, and the result is a photograph of a boy who looks seriously deranged.  The picture is absolutely hilarious.  It is stunningly terrible.  It could win a PRIZE for a really terrible picture award of some sort or another. We’ve been laughing as a family  about the profile shot in our orthodontic information folder for months.

Early last Monday Mr. SP had an appointment at the orthodontist to get his braces.  He was not energetic.  He was not anticipating this appointment.  Perhaps because I’ve had braces myself (for 3 years) and lived through the process just fine, I am less sympathetic than many parents.  I knew it would all be just fine.

We got to the orthodontic office.  Mr. SP lethargically shuffled over to the reception desk.  When patients arrive, they check in on a computer at the counter.  Mr. SP walked over and typed in his name.  I was standing behind him, just a bit off to the side.  Up popped the deranged picture!  “Is this you?” It was so sudden and unexpected that Mr. SP literally jumped back from the computer.  I got the giggles so hard I was snorting because I couldn’t breathe.  I sat in the corner of the waiting room wheezing and laughing for at least ten minutes.  Oh my goodness.  It was so entertaining!