My mom Bernice Lane (Hesslein) Erickson never liked to talk about her age. I think that went all the way back to her New York City days. She had her ways and being a fantastic mom and a painter that inspired me throughout my life she always had carte blanche with me.

When we were living in Torino, Italy from 1969 through 1972, Bernice had to get a new passport in 1971. Before she headed to the consulate in Milan to complete the paperwork, she went to a photographer's studio in Milan to get her portrait taken.

These three here were the out-takes and are my favorites. Three differnt personalities and all three make me smile. Even though the middle one is pretty close to the one she eventually used on her passport, it has a far more mugshot atmosphere to it.