A TRUE STORY

[Oldlioness]

Here's a photo from a portion of my 2009 Christmas stuff in the kitchen--and the story that goes with it

Kitchen Putz, cabinet, 2009-Croton on Hudson

This is one of two vintage Christmas displays in my kitchen, and special to me for a number of reasons.
You will note the photo of the three boys in uniform and the child's skates directly above. Last autumn, I found a tattered, moldy box, perhaps a hatbox, at a flea market. Inside, carefully preserved and wrapped in layers of moldy tissue paper was this photo (the frame is not special, though rusty) and the black skates. It broke my heart to think that this had ended up there--when the owner had gone so entirely out of their way to keep these objects together. I purchased them both on the spot for an obscenely cheap price--just a few dollars. The cardboard backing is marked 1929, "John and Friends".

I don't know which of the boys is "John". I only know that both the skates and the photo had to come home with me.

p.s. The Santa scene on the left is from the late 40's, made by Glo-lite and the Coca-cola house up top is from the late 70's. Other items except for the Christmas tree lot are from the 50's and 60's, made in Japan.