Last month the photographer for the university came to one of my classes and took pictures. I had volunteered to be the subject, and it was planned. But I thought it would take place in April -- figured that's when students do presentations and it might provide a good activity for photos. Instead he came almost immediately upon my saying yes, right in between Sophie's and my mother's-in-law passing. For the months of January and February I was very sleep deprived. In January, I woke up or sat up many times every night because of Sophie. Then she died, and I couldn't rest because I felt so sad. Plus, in February I was exhausted from multiple trips downstate, and from the continuous worry over Millie's condition.

So let's just say I wasn't looking my best, OK? As I have written here before, I don't wear make-up or dye my hair (my hair is awesome though). I also don't care much about clothes -- if they are wrinkled, so what...and dog hair really is a fashion accessory for me. But that day I made an effort to look presentable. Not with make-up, but I wore a necklace that had been Mimmie's and a decent shirt and pants.

Several weeks passed and I received the link to the gallery of pictures. All 125 of them. My first thought: when did I become that weird, frumpy professor? I have made this joke to several people...and the response invariably is "oh, you could never be frumpy." However, I notice they do not mention "weird"...hmmm.

 Here I am, looking not frumpy but still weird