Our family was not a picture taking family. I was caught off guard when my Mother told me we were going to have pictures made, and I needed to get dressed in this suit and tie.
Before that day, I don’t recall ever wearing a suit and tie. To say I resisted conventional wisdom might be a slight understatement. I did not wear the suit and tie. I know, the picture is proof otherwise.
I dressed with my polished handmade black boots (with red tops), new blue jeans, and my belt. My belt was hand tooled with my last name tooled on the back. It was the thing back then. I had a nice starched white shirt, and folks I was ready for picture taking day!
These studio setups are made to fool people. This is where the shanghai comes in. We took pictures the way I came dressed. We added a string tie which I thought a bit much. Anyway, after several different shots, my Mother told me to put on the coat, and she affixed the bow tie. I thought I looked rather silly, and that the picture would never make it.
I did not see the picture my Mother chose until my teenage years. I was really surprised. It was what she wanted all along, I was wearing the coat and tie. Mothers always get what they want.
short stories 