Earlier today I was going back through the many, many (many) sock pictures from this past year — for a surprise project! — and I realized that over the course of the first three months of 2018, two things became very clear.
The first is that my skill with taking and presenting pictures of the socks on my feet grew significantly between January first and March 30. Honestly, in the first few weeks of the year, the images were rough. Not great angles, not great lighting, and trying to show the socks while still wearing shoes, of all things. I’m just thankful I steadily progressed so that by Spring I wasn’t embarrassing myself quite so badly.
I mean, at least not with the amateur photography. I’m still quite embarrassing…just ask my kids.
Secondly, and more importantly, I realized just how many of my early posts included Smoky in the picture. My puppy always wants to play, and is rarely without some withered piece of cloth that was formerly a stuffed animal but has been completely liberated of both squeaker and all stuffing. As a result of his enthusiasm, there are a lot of pictures throughout this year that include both socks and Smoky. And I couldn’t be happier that he joined me so many times for the evening sock picture.
It seemed pretty fitting, then, that I was able to get this shot of today’s beer-centric beverage socks with Smoky in repose in the background. This image is pretty emblematic of many a Friday night, when I’m wont to have a beer or two (always in the appropriate glasswear, as suggested-ish by the socks) and he relaxes nearby with the well-loved-yet-empty shell of a friend.
No matter what happens after the first of January next week, no matter what kind of posts I choose to write next year, I promise to keep you up-to-date with Smoky pictures.
I mean, let’s be honest, he’s the star around here anyways.
Puddintopia 