1997 - the "neck" picture

ah, sixteen. such a golden age. an age i had looked forward to for a very long time. i could finally start dating and, equally as important, i could finally get my driver license. 

with a fall birthday, i was still in driver's ed for a few months after the big day, so when the term ended, i was one anxious girl. after hours of primping to make sure i looked just right {and using my favorite lip gloss from my seasonal job at bath and body works}, my mom accompanied me to the department of motor vehicles in west valley city {west siiiiide! - that was for you, ryan.} i had already passed the written and driving tests with flying colors {i even had to parallel park in a stick shift!}. now i just had to read a few black leters on a white screen, sign my name and take a photo. 

my mom gave me some valuable advice before i walked over to the blue wall facing the camera. at 5'8", she had had some bad experiences with the angle of the dmv camera. so, she suggested i keep my chin up so the photo was actually of my face. 

as i stood in front of the camera, she put her forefingers on her chin and motioned for me to lift mine. being a smart alec teenager, i overexaggerated for her sake. "like this?" i replied and stuck my chin extremely far out. i was smiling from my funny joke and the pleasant dmv employee clicked the camera and the shutter opened to capture just that moment. i repositioned and prepared for her to take the real thing, but she was done. i explained that i hadn't been ready and asked for a redo, but there was no use. she wouldn't budge. {what is it with those dmv employees???}. and so, for the next five years, as long as my last name was kinnersley, i proved my identification with my neck. 

eventually, i grew fond of "the neck picture," so when it came time to get a new license, i must have misplaced it. honestly, for a solid day {the day i went back to the dmv}, that license wasn't anywhere in my wallet! i paid the extra $20 or so to get a new license without turning in my current one and it was well worth the fee. 

miraculously, the license appeared after i got home. and i still have it. 

i've considered photographing my neck in my two subsequent license photos {just got my new hampshire license in the mail today!}, but decided that might be overkill. i'll stick with just one mishap.

also in 1997:

 {excited on christmas morning.}

 {with my favorite felt twins. i don't usually wear that much makeup, but this was after a makeover. not really my style??}

 {girl's camp.}

 {homecoming.}

 {laura, tess, candice, me, sarah, emily

megan, meghan, claire}

{emily and maren at 9th grade promotion}