There is a photo that has been on our mantel, proudly displayed, for all of our marriage. It often comes up in conversations about funny family stories and since we move a lot, we’ve told some of these same stories a lot. The reaction to this photo is always the same.
Mild Astonishment. Quickly followed by, “Is that a possum?”
This picture was taken one day when Ernie, his cousin Michael, his Grandfather Reed, and Uncle Reed had come in from working outside. Ernie’s grandmother thought they looked funny so she decided on the spur of the moment to pack them all into the car and drive directly to Olan Mills. Uncle Reed decided to bring his pet possum.
Last 4th of July, Sylvia, Dave, and the kids were visiting us here in Hattiesburg. One evening we all sat around with our laptops (yes- 4 people with 4 laptops) and looked at all kinds of crazy websites and laughed and laughed. That’s when someone had the idea to upload this photo to AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com.
Since then it’s been featured on msn.com as an example of the crazy pictures that you can find on the Awkward Family Photos website. If you Google it, there are a surprising number of blogs that link to this picture (my favorite is here on the Comedy Central website). And then this.
Ernie got an email from the guy that runs the AFP website, letting him know that his picture was featured on a show in Britain and included a link to this video clip. We love that Ricky Gervais has now personally viewed and commented on a picture of Ernie.
Here’s the video- but I will warn you, there are 4 pictures shown and the comments on the first 3 are pretty clean, but the comments on the last photo, not so much. You have been warned if you want to stop the video. Ernie’s picture is the second one shown.
4 comments:
I think what baffles me the most about the whole story is "who owns a pet possum!?" :) I thought those things were dangerous!?
But it's definitely a funny story! I say cudos to Ernie's grandma for recognizing the "potential" her family had that day!:)
that is hilarious. i love that you proudly display that photo on your mantle. thanks for sharing. which one is ernie?
Amy- Ernie is the boy on the left in the v-neck sweater.
Actually, you got a couple small details wrong. When Grandma got home she saw that my grandfather had conveniently forgotten that she had told him about an appointment to get our photo taken, and we were nowhere near presentable, much less photo-ready. She was pissed! She said, "dang it, I don't care what you look like, we are going to get your photo taken!" and off we went.
Buddy the possum was sound asleep in my Uncle Reed's bedroom (possums are nocturnal), and so Reed woke him up (which is why he has "bed hair") and brought him along for the ride.
Good times.
Post a Comment