Ready for a Laugh? My Bad Paid for Photos

If you’re ever in the mood for a good laugh, watch Ellen’s Bad Paid for Photos segment. It’s a riot to see some of the pictures people actually paid money for. One common denominator I’ve noticed in most of the photos include the oversize eyeglasses worn in the 80′s. Picture after picture of school kids wearing glasses bigger than their face. I smile in sympathy when I see those glasses, because in some of my worst school photos, I’m wearing the same ones.

When I was in second grade I had to get prescription glasses. I remember them too, they were my favorite glasses ever. They had tiny images of Strawberry Shortcake on the frame. I thought they were so cool and lucky for me, this pair were of a reasonable size for the time period.

Then as time progressed, my eyesight worsened and my glasses got bigger. I started to hear some teasing when other kids called me four-eyes. My glasses and I started to enter a rocky relationship. I depended on them to see, but they were getting me made fun of.  Surprisingly, I didn’t hear any jokes about my hair!

To make matters worse, once I reached junior high, prescription eyeglasses had become…well, there’s no other word for it -  enormous. I guess the theory was the worse your eyesight was, the bigger the lens and it only helped you see better if they covered your entire face. Not only were they awkward to wear but they became a bit of a hazard in gym class and when playing sports. With glasses this size it was inevitable that I would get hit in the face with the ball and when I did, man, did it hurt! I still remember the pain of first the ball, and then the glasses slamming into my face. But I loved sports, so I kept playing and even ran track – those giant glasses weren’t going to hold me down!

Needless to say, by this time I was begging and pleading to get contacts. And the the minute my mom gave me permission I made the switch and never looked back. Now, the only time I wear glasses is to read in bed. Although the pair I have today is much more stylish and comfortable than the ones from my past, whenever I wear them this is the girl I’m reminded of:

Kora & Logan stand a good chance that they’ll need glasses. Tired Dad Dave didn’t need them until just out of college, but nonetheless because we both wear them they probably will too. Thankfully they have come a long way and are both stylish and effective now. I’m happy to say Kora & Logan hopefully won’t suffer any bad paid for photos due to their glasses, there may be other reasons, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the glasses won’t be one of them!

What about you do you have a bad paid for photo? Or were you subject to a pair of those extra-large eyeglasses?

I was compensated for this post.