Concentration

It seems like as you get older, you  start to recognize the family traits you posses - the positive ones, of course, but also the ones that you would prefer you didn't have.

Nothing is worse than realizing that the bird-like squawk you just made when you were surprised by a broom falling over sounds identical to the crow's caw your mother makes any time she drops something.  My sister and I used to tease her endlessly about that sound... looking at each other wide-eyed and asking, "Oh, is there a bird in the room?" Now I hear it come out of me unbidden and, most of the time, thank my stars my sister isn't there to hear it.

Some family traits know no bounds.  Today, as our Mother's day celebrations came to a close, my sister and I started talking about the "Look of Concentration" that we've all noticed each other doing.  My maternal grandfather did it really well, and my father does a pretty decent version as well.  So, if this look comes from both sides of my family tree, you know I do it times a million.

Imagine you have something you need to examine.  Perhaps a piece of paper with some scrawling handwriting that is just on the verge of being legible.  Hold that paper up and get a closer look.

If you are a member of my family, you probably look like this:

That's my Grandpa Andy. 

If you'd like to recreate this look, here's how you do it in six easy steps:

1. Stick out your chin.
2. Try to go slack with your lower jaw.
3. Pull up your upper lip and reveal your front teeth.
4. Scrunch up your nose
5. Close your eyes halfway
6. Hold it.

You probably feel really sexy right now.  Extra credit if you flare your nostrils.  

Now imagine that you do this whenever you are trying to understand something or trying to concentrate.  It probably happens to me at work 5+ times a day  - and I KNOW people are walking by my desk and witnessing it. 

How does one cope with that knowledge?  I personally take comfort in the fact that I have 4 other family members who can pull of this look winter, spring summer and fall.  Probably better than I can.  My sister commented that the best is when my dad and brother are side by side "concentrating" on something and wearing the same expression.

One day there will be evidence of me concentrating on something.  I just hope my sister is in the photo too.