It occurred to me one day, if I were to die suddenly, and Robert, our family or friends have to go through all my personal belongings, what would be the most surprising, maybe even shocking thing they might find?
Robert knows me better than anyone and we have no secrets. We share everything. With everyone else, the only thing I can think of is a nude picture of me, taken by my first husband, Doug. He took it with him to Vietnam in May of 1969, where he was a combat medic.
Then September 5, his unit was on a mission and he was attending to a fallen brother when a sniper’s bullet ended his life and made me a widow. Somehow, the picture survived and it was among his personal effects the Army sent home weeks later.
I’m going to put a copy of this memoir with the photo, so everyone will understand its importance and why I’ve kept it all these years.
We had only been married four months and the photo began as an innocent tease. Doug was to leave for Vietnam in a little more than a week. We drove to the family’s lake cottage where we could be alone together and at least for a few days, pretend he wasn’t going anywhere.
We had just awakened on the second morning. He got up to visit the bathroom and I stayed in bed a little longer, not anxious to leave the warmth of the covers when he suddenly appeared in the doorway, holding a camera.
“Smile!”
At first, I was horrified and I ducked deeper under the covers. “No way. You can’t take a picture —-I’m not wearing anything!”
He backed away from the doorway. “I know, Babe. I’m only teasing.”
Hearing that, and thinking he had given up the idea, I relaxed. Then feeling a little frisky, I sat up, tossed the covers aside, threw my arms in the air, and shouted, “TA-DA!”
((( *snap* )))
The picture was taken ...
I remember how surprised I was when they developed it at the photo store. Doug wasn’t. It was an Army base, after all, and the man at the photo store was probably used to that sort of thing, and even more.
I’ve never been able to discard the picture. I knew how much it meant to Doug to have it with him in Nam. You would’ve thought the photo was made of gold, the way he referred to it in his letters:
“I’m so thankful for the photo. It’s like having you here with me.”
And now the photo belongs to me, along with a beautiful memory …
And you were there with him, in all of your real, natural, self.
Doug’s got to be around, tapping you on the shoulder. You’ve been remembering him a lot lately in so many different ways. She’s doing ok, Doug…she’s doing ok 😇😇
Wonderful that you have the photo and the memories!