it runs in your genes

There's a very special trait that has been passed along through the generations on my dad's side of the family. Although I inherited Mom's Irish coloring and disposition, I'm proud to say that I am a card-carrying member of my Dad's diagonal full mouth smiling snarl lineage.

You can either do it, or you can't. Much like rolling your tongue or popping out double jointed limbs, making this face is not a thing that can be taught. Start with a snarl on one side of your mouth, like Elvis. Now slide your jaw away from that snarl while stretching your bottom lip way over to the other side.

Like this:

As you can see, my girl  demonstrates a clear propensity for the making of this face. She's got it, although her execution is somewhat less than the masterpiece of a mug that her mother can produce. I'll cut her some slack, though, because it's hard to make the face on command, especially for the camera. Thing is, it's impossible to make the face while laughing.

And it's hard to stop laughing when your mother is requiring you to make the face for a photo that you *know* is going to be on her blog,and worse, she is using the front camera on the phone so that you can see yourself failing at all attempts to stop laughing!

Hopeless.

Okay, we're getting there - get serious, kid!

Oh, dear.

Okay, let's take a break. We'll see if any other members of our family can help out.

Clearly?

No.

It's up to us, girlfriend. Pull it together. We've got a legacy to uphold!

That's my girl.

To the next generation, I apologize.