Old Stuff and Memories...

I knew better than to show my dissent to this invasion of my reading time.

As the boxes and old pictures came down to my hands, I dutifully put them on the bed for further examination and disposal as she would deem necessary to further storage, display or disposal as the case might be.

I was looking at the pictures in their frames, the Tiger on Black Velvet and the Polar Bear and Wolves, I had bought in Da Nang, Vietnam in 1968, the memories started to intrude unbidden into my mind. I started to think back just a little.

I finally came to a large double cardboard sheaf sealed around the edges. I asked her what it was.

"It's that picture you'd never let me hang, you know, the one I got you right after we got married."

I vaguely remembered something, but could not remember that picture. I took a razor knife and slit the tape around the edges. I lifted the top cover from the picture and what I saw almost brought me to my knees. Pain washed over me, my tears started to flow and I was overcome with grief. I don't remember the last time I cried.

I am now almost 69 years old and the Memories are over 46 years old. I can't believe they still hurt so much.