One of my favorites

My sister and I have been spending a lot of time on the phone lately. Karen is getting married next month, so we are chatting about that, but recently we have also talked about why our parents are the way they are, whether she should go to China, and what happens to friendships over time.

The other night we were talking late into the night, and while thinking of some moment from our shared childhood I decided to look through some old photos. I found one of my all time favorite pictures, one that makes me laugh whenever I see it:

I love this picture for so many reasons. I love the layout, the fact that despite all the available room my family is crowded into a corner of the frame. I love the early 80s outfits, hair and glasses. (Having recently seen old pictures of Phil Specter, I wonder at my mom's 'do.)

Even more than all these other things about this photograph, I love my sister. I love that she's not looking at the camera, but instead sticks her bottom lip out at something unseen and unnoticed by the rest of us.

I dragged this photo through the scanner this week to share it with Karen. She is one of my favorite people and I hope she knows how much I love her and how excited I am to be part of her wedding. It is all I can do not to cry just thinking about it. But then I look at this picture. And laugh.