Fun Monday From ChrisB

This Blog Topic brought to you by Chris B

Our assignment is to go into our closets and look for a piece of vintage clothing and tell the story of its meaning to us. I knew right away what I wanted to write about (Be very glad I did not get out the old belly dance costume with the coin belt made of bottle caps!!) No there was no doubt in my mind the most important item of clothing I have ever had is something that I was inseparable from for many years - my US Army Flack jacket. This jacket is so special to me, because it was given to me by the kindest, sweetest man – a Viet Nam vet who went to the same college as I. I don’t know if I should mention his name or not, but of course the last name is emblazoned across the front of the jacket. Brock Brady had the most winning smile and when I admired his jacket one day, he simply took it off his back and gave it to me. I was such a naïve and foolish young thing in those days – I could not tell if he was romantically interested in me or just a kind and gentle soul, but I now feel I must have been the most narcissistic and selfish person imaginable – I was so lost and insecure in those days. I could hardly see beyond my own nose and here was someone who had been to Viet Nam, who had seen the horrors of war and yet remained a generous and gentle person full of experience and reserve and who had touched me deeply with his gift.

Of course I had to do a web search to see what he might be doing now. Another friend from school is always telling me that people we know have passed on (I think he makes these things up to bother me) and I seemed to remember Jack had included Brock on one of those missing lists, but no, I discovered through a relatively simple google search that he is a renowned teacher of English as a Second Language a prestigeous institution, a Peace Corps volunteer returned from a slough of exotic places and a prize winning academic advisor. Of course, none of this surprises me in the least. There was a picture on one of the web sites and he still has the same charming and winning smile. I’ll never forget the poetry that he used to write – one poem in particular about a woman that he had met. He described his experience with her like a bowl of soup – in which all the pepper had settled to the bottom of the bowl. I am so glad that he is doing so well! So here I am these many years later in my favorite piece of clothing!



He will never know how much I learned about generosity and kindness from him. He gave me a real boost at a time when I was in great need. I think after the Easter break I may send him some anonymous flowers – it could never mean as much as the gift of his jacket, but perhaps it will evoke that wonderful, winning smile and give him just a taste of the appreciation that I felt that day so long ago.