I get this one alot. Must be the way i walk or something. It raises a question too. Why is it that in this situation and others, when you watch someone walk down the street, its human nature to error on the side of arrogance?
One particular encounter comes to mind and sticks out more than most. It was a summer day and i was coming out of the grocery store. I was walking to my truck with a case of soda in hand, sunglasses on, minding my own business. A woman yells out from a bench in the shade. "Your shit smells just like everyone elses you know". As the WTF light starts flashing in my head i turn my head toward the voice. On the bench was a woman probably upper 40s lower 50s and a gentleman that at that moment i could only guess was her husband. Once i made face contact she clarified with a "yes i meant you" or something like that. I put my stuff in my truck and then proceed to approach them. I respond with that all too familiar "excuse me?" She then proceeds to repeat herself using different words, i dont remember exactly but im sure it cant be too difficult to picture how this is going. In those few seconds i was more focused on thinking about how i wanted to respond. What i wanted to say. What tone i wanted to use. And of course sorting through my list of curse words for added effectiveness of getting my point across. Now i still have my sunglasses on. The joys of being able to move just your eyes to look at something else while still appearing to make eye contact. I glance over to the husband. His expression was quite blank. He didnt seem to have a feeling about this one way or the other. Now i dont remember my exact choice of words. But i did choose to not use profanity. I only got about 2 sentences out. I managed to reference walking tall and with pride as it applies to being in the miltary for 8 years. As if my haircut shouldnt have given that away in the first place to this woman. Now trying to stand her ground she began to say something else. This was brought to an abrupt halt when her husband came out of nowhere and told her to shut up by name. The brief pause felt like about 5 minutes. All of a sudden i was overwhelmed with curiosity as to what this guy was going to say. I resisted the urge to give a follow up comment reinforcing his telling her to be quiet. In fact i think i forgot. The moment itself was really cool. But not nearly as cool as what followed, at least to me. He then stood up and reached to shake my hand. As we shook hands he stated he was a Vietnam Vet, such and such years and said "Thank you". He even brought his left hand over for the 2 hands on one handshake in a gesture of sincereity. I simply nodded my head (he did the same) and went on my way.
Why is that? Why was it required that i state my case before i was looked at as a proud individual and not some arrogant prick?
Another instance that really touched me, and i mean deep. I can't even explain it. I was workingat a customers house. When i got there he answered the door in a power chair. He had no legs, one and a half arms, and freshly stiched incision about 8 inches straight up his belly. As i proceeded to work i heard a line from the movie on his TV as i walked by. Without hesitating i just said the name of the movie ( i hadnt even seen the screen). It was Platoon. He asked me if i liked war movies and volunteered that i looked like i had served. So he asked me a lot of questions about my service as i worked. I then learned he was a Vietnam Vet who got blown up by a booby trap land mine that put him in his condition. He was making wisecracks and jokes about it too having a good time with the conversation. I mean really? Like...wow. You want to share in the humor but you dont because you risk offending him. I was going to thank him on my way out when the unthinkable happened. He stopped me as i was leaving. Got back in his chair from bed, rolled up to me, shook my hand and thanked ME for MY service. Are you kidding? I was getting babysat for my time compared to what this man had seen and been through. I was beside myself. So much so that not only was i speechless, i completely forgot i wanted to thank him. The only saving grace for that was the eye contact at the end. You just know. The eyes of a soldier are deep. I could tell he really wanted to be able to stand up and shake my hand.
Had I seen him on the street I wouldnt have even given that a thought. I would have thought car accident or something. While i dont remember the details of the story he told about the incident, i wouldnt share it if i did.
Most civilians can't fathom what it means to me to have served. The things ive seen and done....
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