I was searching my digital photo files for yet another online profile.  It had to be fairly close up, with no hands on my shoulder from a cropped-out friend, and it had to look like me.  Not easy.  I finally found the photo I used for Red Room.  I was surprised to see that it was taken in 2004.  How time flies.

Does using a photo from 2004 make me a liar? How old can a photo be before it is a lie?

I rather like this photo - it reminds me of the lazy Sunday morning when my daughter snuck up on me and took it.  I was halfway through the funnies, well before my shower, and her bedhead made me laugh.  I'm usually the one who takes sneak attack photos, so she was especially pleased with herself for catching me.

And yet, I don't want to be a liar.  I never want to be the old woman with airbrushed "star" photos that make her look thirty years younger.  I've got no problem with my wrinkles.  I earned them. Nor do I want people who eventually do meet me to think, "Holy hell, she's ancient in real life.  Does she not like being ancient?  Does she not want people to know?"

I will not lose sleep over this.  If I do, you may see a new photo of me, probably with some finger tips on my shoulder from a friend (who will be mad s/he was cropped out), or with one of my shoulders elevated and tipped toward the lense (self-portrait).  If not, I will forever be here, smiling at my daughter's 2004 bedhead.