 OK, I'm missing the side that helps me think.This book is
something I hope to have for many years, and I hope to look at it
many times during those years. I want to be able to say, "Look at
these beautiful pictures!" not "What moron put this book together?
Oh yeah... me."
Order is the key, I think, but what order? There are so many ways
to order them: chronologically, by place, by person, by color,
alphabetically. Out of all of these ways to order the pictures, I
know there must be one right way.
I'm sure there are some free spirits who might think that
throwing a stack of photographs into the air and placing them in the
scrapbook in the order that they fell is a perfectly acceptable way
to put a scrapbook together. These people don't wear matching socks
either.
On the other hand, if they have no decisions to make or fashion
rules to follow, their life is probably much less stressful than
mine.
Oh, to be a free spirit!
Even after I have decided on the order, there are still many
other decisions to make. For example, the paper for the background
has to be determined. Do I use all the same color for consistency,
or do I mix it up?
Although I aspire to be a free spirit one day, throwing all the
pictures into the air would still give me a heart attack.
Still, a certain amount of chaos in one's life tends to give one
a bit of perspective. That's why I had children. So, my background
paper will most likely be an eclectic mix of stripes and polka dots
-- not on the same page, of course. That would just be crazy,
wouldn't it?
[to top of second column] |
 Neurotic people should never attempt something as complex as a
scrapbook. I have seriously considered paying someone to do this,
but then, what if they did it wrong? Would I even notice? The real
point is, would anyone else notice?
Someday, there may be a scrapbook expert who looks at my book. I
will be holding my breath, hoping for a two-thumbs-up from this
paragon of scrapbook perfection. My fear is that she will smile
politely and cringe inside.
Then she will say something inspiring like, "That's interesting,"
because that's what you say to people who are barely hanging on to
reason.
I do, I really do ask myself why I should care what she will
think. Then I realize that talking to myself just means I'm a
lunatic as well as neurotic.
So, no, I will have to determine what is the right way to do
this, and then do it myself.
OK, so there are worse problems in the world than my scrapbook
issues. Having kids was supposed to remedy my perspective on things
like this. I can already imagine one of them saying, "You need to
get a life, Mom."
True, but if I had one, what would I do with all the pictures?
[By LAURA SNYDER]
Laura Snyder is a nationally syndicated columnist,
author and speaker. You can reach her at
lsnyder@lauraonlife.com
or visit www.lauraonlife.com
for more info.
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