I think I’ve written about this once before, but here’s the story of my first Valentine from Don.
Sometime in late January of 1995, we ended up in Ocean Beach, the place where we met each other in July 1994. Even though we look as if we were in the water, we were standing on the sand. Unbeknownst to us, a photographer from the San Diego Union-Tribune was standing on the Ocean Beach Pier, taking pictures. He was working on an article with a Valentines Day Theme. We did not know that our picture was being taken. He approached us and asked whether we would consent to having it printed in the paper. After some thought, I vetoed the idea. This was still early on in our relationship, and I didn’t want everyone at the theater, as well as my students, talking about it. I think some of my students knew about us at this point, but we were working very hard to keep it private. I had visions of it being posted on a board at the theater and was uncomfortable with that.
Don asked the photographer if he could have a copy of the photo, but the company policy was that you only got a copy if you consented to let them print it. Ah, well.
Soon after that, I left for the annual audition tour, where we auditioned prospective students in NYC, Chicago, and San Francisco. I was away for about two weeks. While I was on the last leg of the tour in San Francisco, I came down with the flu and was terribly ill. I finally had to leave SF a day early because I couldn’t work and being ill in a hotel is the pits. Don picked me up at the airport. I think it was February 13th.
I was still quite ill on the following day, but Don came over to my apartment to wish me a Happy Valentines Day. I think he had some flowers for me and a few other treats. One of the packages contained this framed photo.
What???? How did you get this? How did this happen??
Well. Don can be very charming, as you know. And relentless, if necessary. He decided to contact the reporter and see if he just might change his mind. It took a while, but Don finally persuaded him that we would keep it secret, would not publicize it, that it was something we could keep private. The photographer made a copy of the photo and Don picked it up.
And he surprised me with it on Valentines Day.
What a sweetheart he was – and is.
Later in the day after I had written my post on Wednesday, my eyes landed on this photo. It’s on the bookshelf in the den. I dusted it, tried my best to take a picture without glare coming from all the windows in the den, and here it is for you today.
My first, and still the best, Valentines Day gift from my husband.
(I miss being that thin. Don is stunned by his hair.)
Time marches on.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
