1971

I still distinctly remember the day this picture was taken: The photographer had come to our home for a photo shoot (standard protocol, "back in the day"), and he and my mother decided it would be cute for me to pose while sitting at our piano.

I recall my mother cheerfully suggesting, "Susan, play 'Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head!'" since that was my absolute favorite song back then. And, in response, I tearfully pleaded, "But I don't KNOW how to play the piano, Mama!" Then I promptly burst into tears, in typical preschooler fashion. The photographer and my mother assured me I didn't have to know how to play it, that I could simply place my fingers on the keys. Apparently they settled for next to the keys, as you can see. Anything to prevent another princessy outburst.

Oh, if only life's challenges could be so simple to solve today...