Interesting People

Last night I met an interesting old guy at a small bar where I'd gone for a drink, dinner, and to read my book. He started chatting to me and at first I just made the occasional polite reply before going back to my book. Then I started really listening to him. He told me about being in the army, seeing Vietnam where he was shot in the back (lost a kidney) but didn't realize it for 40hrs since he and the rest of his unit were hiding from the enemy. The man told me about a bar fight on base in the gulf war where he had a pool stick cracked over his head. A large splinter embedded in his skull and consequently, he spent several weeks in the hospital where he met and became close with, a nurse. Unfortunately he was married, and his fling got pregnant! Oops! He told his wife 3 days before returning to the U.S. where he went through several weeks not hearing from her while he and his unit went through exit training before being allowed to go home. Finally she called him and said "let's let bygones be bygones" wow, I don't know if I could do that, but they've been married for 31yrs now, so, who's to judge? He showed me a bayonet scar from Vietnam, and the scar on his hand from being shot with a rifle in the Gulf. On and on, the stories piled up, about his kids, their kids, the places he's traveled, the jobs he's held, the family feud. And the thing is, they were great stories! He listened to me too, talk about my life, my job, my family.

He now works in demolition and was part of the team that blew up a local emptied hospital (which he claimed was haunted), and has been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He won't quit work, though, not until he's put his youngest daughter through med school. I'm hoping he'll be OK, he's had quite a life and he's still got more in him, for sure.