I have been meaning to post some BERSHON pictures for the longest time. For those who aren't familiar with the term, bershon basically entails a photograph of someone exhibiting the attitude of a 13-year-old who can't BELIEVE they have to pose for a picture right now, GAWD! The person, or animal as the case may be, doesn't have to be 13, but must appear to be thinking the put-out, above-it-all, I'm-so-BORED-hurry-up-and-take-the-picture-already kind of thoughts that 13-year-olds are most famous for. Just Google "bershon" and you will find links to many, many people looking bershon at some time in their lives.

For example,




I was actually only 11 in this picture, but clearly was already capable of plenty of 13-year-old attitude. I remember that morning, and it was a very bad one with Mom, so I'm surprised she actually took the time for the photo since normally she would have just said "Fine! FORGET IT!!!, started the car and then drove off slowly for me to chase after and try to get the door open to get in before she pulled out of the driveway. But, we had pictures at school that day for our 7th grade commencement, so we had to go in all dressed up, and I guess Mom just really wanted to capture it for some reason. Probably because the yard looked pretty. These days, I'm obviously quite glad there are pictures from that day, but I do wish I looked happier in them. Still, even if I had pasted on a fake smile, I would still remember what I was thinking at the time, which was, "Gawd, MOM! Hurry UP!" She probably threw out the pictures that showed me rolling my eyes, because I feel confident there was at least one of those.



Might have to click on this one to enlarge it to really see the serious bershon I had going on, but this was at my 5th grade birthday party, so I was what...9, I guess? And obviously, quite charming. I think I was mad that I wasn't allowed to participate in whatever game my guests were about to play, and I had not yet learned the fine art of Hiding One's Disappointment. Lovely girl!



This is probably my most Authentic Bershon, because this was the summer before I turned 13. Don't ask me how someone can be so miserable while racing bumper boats, because I truly can't remember what the hell my problem was that day.



In this one, I am 17, and somehow have managed to be bershon at the beach. The beach! My happy place! Seems like I wasn't the only one, though because my Dad looked rather bershon himself on that particular trip:



But like I said before, it's not just people who get a little bershon sometimes. Every now and then a cat will just get SO BORED of the person with the camera that they are about 1 second from walking away, shaking their heads:






But, I think my most favorite bershon picture ever isn't of me, or any animals, but is actually this one. And my friend will probably have words for me when she sees this posted, but it makes me laugh so hard. Here she is, 18 years old, on graduation day, after her mother asked her to open up her robe to get a picture of the dress underneath that was no doubt quite pricey. Nothing says, "GAWD, MOM!!!!" quite like this:



To this day, I'm still not one to enjoy the fake smiley, posed photographs, because I think people look stiff and false in them, and I know I feel that way when I try to "look right" in a picture, but I do try now to at least not glower if I can help it.