Robin Dodd Photography

Remember the simplicity of going on a road trip. You sat in the back seat and looked out the window. You had the copy of Flowers in the Attic, that you "borrowed" from your cousin, the last time you were over there, for when your dad took over the radio and made you listen to the Willie Nelson Red Headed Stranger cassette the whole way. You rolled down the window because it was Texas in the spring time and the air was already warm. Your mom packed ranch Doritos and  Dr. Pepper, and your dad said "Don't drink it too fast" , I'm not stopping every five minutes. Sometimes you played slug bug, or I spy. Eventually you got where you were going in one piece and the pretend misery was over, because deep down it brought a special thrill to be going on an adventure, even if it was just to your grandmother's house.

Did I ever tell you the story about my mom trying to get me to sit for a portrait with her? She's smiling like an angel of the Lord and I won't show my whole face and look like someone was forcing me to drink a green smoothie at the age of three in 1971, no doubt. We lost that pic in a fire almost twenty years ago. I remember every thing about that photo. Her Marge Simpson hair, my huge pouty cheeks and my page boy haircut.. What I wouldn't give to have that photo back..These littles in this family photo remind me of that pic. sometimes it's not about the cheesy smile. Well, most of the time for me, it's not.