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| Edward Hopper, 1947 Picture supplied as prompt for Magpie Tales. |
"Really? I think my knees look fat."
"No, you look wonderful, and that bathing suit is great. I've never seen it before."
"Silly. Of course you haven't. You were away all during The War, then you came home, and we got married, and I was pregnant last summer, so I didn't swim, but I told you about this bathing suit."
"Oh, is this the one? The very one?"
"Yes, this is it. Mother and I were going up the coast to visit Dad at the fish cannery, and he called the boat to ask me what I wanted for my birthday."
"Oh, yes, I laughed when I got your letter. You forgot he was calling on the ship-to-shore radio, which everyone could hear..."
"Yes, and I told him I wanted a bathing suit. So he asked, how much?"
"And of course he was asking how much it would cost..."
"But I didn't think of that, so I said, 'Enough to cover the important parts' and..."
"And everyone up and down the coast heard you! That's so funny!"
"Yes, they sure teased me every time the boat stopped to let passengers on and off, all the way up to the cannery, and all the way back."
"So, this is it, is it? Well, you're right, it is enough to cover the important parts. And I'm serious: to look at you now, no one would ever, ever believe you had Kay in December."
*
Based on an entirely true story involving my parents and grandparents, and me, although I don't really know what year Mom got the infamous radio call about her bathing suit. She might have been younger, when she and Dad were dating, before they got engaged and he left to go overseas during World War II. They were married shortly after he came home. The date of the painting made me think of Mom's bathing suit, and my first trip to the beach. I was the first baby Dad had ever known personally, so he was sure I was very big for my age.Posted for Magpie Tales, hosted by Willow.
To see how Edward Hopper's painting inspired others, please click
33 comments:
An interesting conversation.well see how few memories of the past helps us to create images writing for the present Magpie:)
I really enjoyed this interpretation. It is almost the opposite of mine. We must be in very different moods!
That is such a sweet, and funny, story. The picture fits perfectly with the details of your Mom's 'bathing suit call'.
Loved this, based on a true story! So precious and very interesting.
What a great story!
I love it!! It's funny how memory links with visual things and produces such varied responses.
smiles. how cool to hear that story...its warm and funny...very well done to the prompt...nice memories...
Oh I just love your take on the photo! Such a sweet story and you surprised me at the end stating that it was true. Just lovely Kay!
All the better for being true.
A lovely Magpie tale.
Love reading your tales Kay - always make me smile.
Really enjoyed this Kay, you've got to watch those ship to shore radios haha!
Such a sweet story. I'm so glad you shared it. I have a picture of my mother sitting on a wall outside her apartment in a bathing suit. She is in a 40's bathing beauty pose, but she told me later that it was the first time she had curled her hair and put it down since I was born. She had just twisted it up in the stress of having a new baby. So when she washed and curled her hair, my dad insisted on taking the picture.
Hi. My comment never appeared so I will try again. I loved your story. It reminds me of a picture I have of my mother. She is posing in a bathing suit on a little wall beside her apartment like a 40's bathing beauty. I admired the photo but then I was suprised when my mother told me the context. It was the first time she had washed and curled her hair after I was born. She had just been twisting it up on top of her head until that day. So my father insisted on taking the picture.
I love this. What a great idea, too. I taught Creative WRiting at a men's penitentiary. Neer thought of using photos.
What a sweet and funny story and memory! Wonderful!
I love how you related a personal story and everything fit so well with the photo. Wonderfully done!
Such a touching episode. You brought me to that moment in time when I could remember certain little anecdotes myself. If only I had the occasion to put them onto paper. Thanks for sharing a family secret!
A TRUE story! How cool you were able to tell it using this picture. Excellent, Kay!
What a fun read, Kay! Made even more so by its foundation in a true story of your parents.
A sweet tale - the truth is often better than fiction! :)
Oh, this is so wonderful. Lovely take. : )
Ha.What a lovely story...Thank you for sharing it...
and you did the entire piece in dialogue, its nicely done :)
Nothing like nostalgia to get that warm and romantic feeling going. Lovely little piece. (er... Two piece)
I love this story. It really made me smile. I laughed aloud at your Dad's remark about you being big for your age:-) :-)
I enjoyed every word of this! It was funny and touching - and then at the end, finding out it was your parents was just a great surprise. They seemed very much in love, and so sweet. What a great story!
Such a lovely story. I so love the style of the 40s, very glamorous.
amazing,
Dear Kay: The fact this story is based on a true story is really cool! The historical setting of the story is wonderfully conveyed in the historic references. Always amazed at the ladies who can shed postnatal baby weight...lucky ladies! Made me smile!
Dear Erratic Thoughts: Indelible images; a wonderful heart-felt story of love!
what an amazing story and take on the Magpie--lovely --you should continue the tale --fabulous story..c
that was a nice combination of sweet, funny and romantic story...
i love it!
JJRod'z
How sweet! My mother and her sister each had outfits like Hopper's young woman ... in blue and in yellow!!!
Nothing wrong with fat knees!
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