“Gramie and Grampi with the cake Annie made for you,” reads the message on the back of this photo. At first I thought this might be an anniversary celebration cake for the older couple, but the caption tells a different story. In a way I’m glad, because the pair doesn’t looked dressed up enough for a big party in their honor.
There are so many great details in this photo—the exuberant wallpaper, the photo studded TV, and what looks like a hand painted picture of a graduating couple in the background. The clothes are also interesting. The woman wears a fifties style double breasted shirt waist dress edged with polka dot trim at the collar, sleeves, pocket and the front facing. A bar pin keeps the neck line opening in place. Her belt is white, coordinating with the white polka dots. I wonder if she sometimes wore a dark belt instead.
Her husband also has on casual clothes, including a plaid shirt and suspenders. Perhaps the shirt is homemade, since the pockets look unusually low. A mistake or a custom touch? His bolo tie might give a hint to the location—it’s a male accessory I associate with the American Southwest.
Did the photographer catch the grandfather at a bad moment, or had someone just said something rude?