There is a black-and-white picture in my hallway, of me, Nancy, and Lizzie in the bath, when Nancy was eight months old and Lizzie two-and-a-half. I am gently biting Lizzie. Nancy, in turn, is gumming my face. All eyes are on the person taking the picture - Pete, who was, as the slight camera-wobble shows, laughing. There we are - a tangle of half-shared DNA, all interlocking with each other; all being watched over by the one who loves us best. If I had to explain to someone what happiness is, I would show them this picture.
This tender and vivid depiction of a family moment captures the essence of happiness through the simple, chaotic love that binds people together. The author uses the metaphor of 'half-shared DNA' to emphasize the biological and emotional interconnections among the family members, illustrating how deeply they are entwined beyond just shared genetics — the intimacy, the playful interactions, and the mutual care create a powerful image of unity. The black-and-white photograph serves as a frozen snapshot of joy, authenticity, and laughter amid the messiness of everyday life. The detail of the camera-wobble revealing laughter is particularly evocative, subtly situating the observer within that moment of warm, loving imperfection. This scene dismantles any notion that happiness is a grand or perfect state and instead suggests that it is found in small, ordinary experiences brimming with love and presence — a child gently biting, another 'gumming,' and at the center, the gaze filled with affection from Pete, the photographer. These shared moments are what truly define happiness, underscoring it as a collective experience rooted in connection rather than solitude. Caitlin Moran’s intimate storytelling invites us to reconsider our own definitions of joy, highlighting that the best kind of happiness is the uncomplicated and unfiltered love found within the bonds of family.
