Walking Down a Road

4.26.14 Sat                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Just walking down a road. Its funny how your mind can take you back places. Vietnam. First division... who the fuck wants to be in the first division, I'm second division --- tried and true.                                                                       So, what the fuck am I doing here, other than following orders. I am so shit kicker pissed. But not so pissed that I'm not watching what's going on around me. I mean everything. This is my third tour of duty --- I volunteered --- got wounded only once, too goddam slow in a firefight will get you bodybagged everytime --- damn.
         Maybe, I can make gunnery sergeant and get married. This is my life --- I know about this stuff. The CO called me in, wants to send me to officer's candidate back at Quantico --- shit. What do I do about that? I know about living and dying --- I'm twenty-two. Who knows, maybe I'll make it to twenty-three.                                                                                                    I see this kid --- toddler --- eyes wide, by the side of the road, all cried out. I pick him up. I don't know why. The guys in my squad curse at me. 'Shut the fuck up! I'm still in charge.'                              
         In the blink of an eye, I'm attending his Cal Tech graduation in astro-physics. My son, the physicist. Damn, don't life beat all.                                                                                                                                                      Yeah, I'm still stuck in first division .... only, now, first division is mine --- for a time.