the camera had it

i sent sadia a text with a photo of a photo from an old album I found at home, at my parent’s house.

Look at this.

I look like I’m 40.

the picture was from my 16th birthday party. my plastic frame glasses were too large for my face, large and round and that kind of pink that was popular in the 80s. i wore a long white denim skirt that hit almost at the ankle and an ill fitting white button down shirt 3 sizes too big because i hated my body.

oh but my hair. my glorious hair. it was permed and floated around my had like a frizzy cloud with no clear boundaries, like black mist. with the signature bangs that had 2 layers, the one that curled up to give you height and the flat layer underneath, perfect to cover the zits on your forehead.

and white point flats. flatter than flat flat flats, because i had surprisingly large flat feet for a teenager.

i was never dainty and my mother had given up on trying to find me clothes in my age group so sears women’s wear became my friend.

it’s a miracle really that i went to a catholic school and had to wear a uniform. i wouldn’t have survived high school without it.