I must admit, I have a morbid fascination with “before and after” pictures.

Really. I can’t remember not stopping dead in my tracks when reading a magazine or newspaper (that’s when you REALLY have the time) for looking, comparing, evaluating, critiquing, judging, and oh my god ing.

Did you see (fill in the blank?) He/she got so fat/thin, old/older, worked on/redone, redressed/undressed and then some. What were they thinking? Were they thinking? Who thinks about this stuff?  Me.

It isn’t just celebrities.

I can happily spend time comparing a home/building/monument renovation before and after. This of course, allows for me to feel less inane and vacuous when I choose to discuss it with anyone in ear shot. How’d you feel when you saw the new MoMa? Brooklyn Museum? Hollywood Closets?

Probably would evoke a considerably deeper conversation then, say, do you think Joan Rivers went one step too far?