DEAR ABBY: I couldn't resist responding to the letter from "Snapping Away," who wanted people to give her film because she always takes pictures and gives everyone copies. We have a snap-happy person in our family, too. She always has a camera handy. Other family members have cameras and would like to take pictures once in a while, but after Snap Happy has tested everyone's patience with, "One, two, three, look at me, I'm taking your picture," the other cameras are usually left in their cases.
This constant picture-taking has brought groans of mild protest from the family, but since she loves to take pictures, keep photo albums and share prints, we humor her.
Our Snap Happy is 80 years old, legally blind, can't see what she is taking a picture of or see the prints, but we are still lining up while she happily snaps away.
Picture-happy people don't realize there is no polite way to refuse the pictures they are giving away. If someone requests that pictures be taken and prints given to them, then reimbursement is in order, but those who don't necessarily want the pictures don't owe her. These photographers should pass prints around and let those who want them write their names on the back so she (or he) will know who wants what. Then those who want pictures can pay their share of the expenses. -- STILL SMILING FOR OUR SNAP HAPPY IN ARKANSAS
DEAR STILL SMILING: That seems fair to me. Thank you for commenting on that letter from a different perspective.