This is for dianaani's inspired open call. I previously mused on this photo here.
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I see a woman being clutched by two men.
She is holding a bouquet and wearing a white dress and veil, so she must be getting married.
I see a funky, stylish wedding ensemble.
Glamour beside a rustic country home.
Who is the groom?
She and the man in the right in the picture look happy. Is he the groom?
The man on the left in the picture does not look happy.
He appears tense and uncomfortable,
and his body language points away from her.
His suit is ill-fitting.
It must have been uncomfortably hot in the tropical heat.
It must also have been uncomfortably formal for him, the owner of a village dry goods store.
That is my husband's grandfather, and he is the groom.
Was he unwilling, did he have cold feet?
Or was he just uncomfortable posing for the camera?
Were they in love?
It is not even known in the family lore how much of a common language they shared.
The photo holds mysteries.
The photo depicts the beginnings of my husband's mixed heritage
in the Caribbean.
We don't know what Grandfather was thinking.
Perhaps he was thinking of faraway Canton, from whence he sailed
and never returned.
© 2010 Linda Shiue
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Kim Gamble
kmbearden
Spectrum Voice
Susie Lindau
Lauren B. Davis
racheld
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Comments
You are so right about the dressed up people and the dilapidated house behind them, the groom's borrowed(?) suit and the lovely bride (love those shoes!). But your knowledge of their personal history is a help to understanding that wistful look on their faces.
Thanks for sharing your family photo and story with us. Beautiful!
Bellwether- what happier ending do we need than mine? :)
Fusun- thank you! Good to see you back.