Who Got It - Algerian Proverb

Vietnam Comments

some time in 2007

Ran into this today and thought it was funny so read it and tell me what you think.

I believe I wrote it for a playwriting class but I may have just written it to write it and have it all in one place.

So my father always used to tell me that Vietnam was that best time of his life. He would say things like “You know when I was a mailman in Vietnam, we used to sit up on the roof tops, smoke dope, and watch the battles, and every now and again you’d look up at a rooftop and see sparks coming down. That was a commanding officer coming to check on his men and them dumping their dope. But you see, I was never on a rooftop, I was always on the ground, collecting their dope. Now if you will excuse me, I need to go smoke their dope. At the end of the war,” he continued without getting up, “I came to my unit and said ‘well boys, we’re going home, and we’re going to have an inspection. So, anything you don’t want them to find you just put in this box right here.’ One man had some pills; there was a good amount of heroin, and, of course, all kinds of dope. Then I sealed the box, sent it home, and we never had an inspection. I miss that war.”

It’s funny that my father tried very hard to get kicked out of the army during boot camp and failed miserably and then when over there to spent the war sleeping with prostitutes and doing drugs. I wonder if the war shaped him or just exaggerated existing characteristics. He did drugs in high school, drugs in college, and even more drugs when he was drafted.

If you knew the pain this man has caused me then you would understand why I’m nothing like him.    

Shadow to Dance - Carl Sandburg

Cruel Children

13^th January 2012

Dear Cassi,

   

Another of the ghost of my memory moaned today. I remember this one occasion where I was foolish enough to watch as another child was roughed up by a group of his school mates. They drew no blood mind you. It was all just make believe that went too far.

   

I forget what offence this unfortunate young man committed to anger the other seven year olds. However, I know it had something to do with a contract. They surrounded him and twisted his arm but went little further than that. The anger on his face is what I recall.     

   

They took his contract, I think it was written on notebook paper, spit on it, rubbed it on the ground and then on his face. Children can be so cruel but this happened in the school yard so the teachers are not without blame.

   

I remember there was this green ball of snot coming out of his nose and he thought it was blood. He fumed when he felt it and reached up then looked at his hand. It looked like his head would explode.

   

The next day it was like nothing ever happened. I have trouble understanding that now days. Then again this was the child that showed another kid his butt on a dare. He got over it and from what I know he is doing well. Then, he hasn’t called in more than ten years.

Stay safe, Cassi

Richard Leland Neal

Dyed Inside

 

Nose Hair

An August Journal: College Application

“Whenever the people are well-informed they can be trusted with their own government.” Thomas Jefferson: as quoted in Time Magazine August 14, 2006

15^th August 2006

         

Today I submitted my application for California State University Fullerton. Frankly, it should have been submitted of August 1^st but as the time has passed nothing more can be done. I’ve had quite the trouble with this application and it’s been more than a year from the day I made the commitment to apply. I don’t know if there is much of a point to this foolishness many of us in the modern day find our degrees useless and I may be in that category.

         

To add to the matter I have submitted my paper work for graduation from Fullerton College and have made it totally clear that all my information is in order. What I will do with my AA I don’t know but as it will bolster my resume it can’t hurt. It’s funny that I’m at the mean age for the student body of Fullerton yet I believe I’ll be something of an old man at the Cal State.  

         

I have no one to blame for my procrastination in life but myself at this point. At twenty-two perhaps I could say something twenty-four my argument has grown week but at twenty-six I’m just a procrastinator.  The reason for my procrastination is a general feeling of unpreparedness. No more screwing around when I get to the university. I have to pay more for my college experience and that makes all the difference.

         

Will there be much of a difference or will it just cost more? In the end we simply ask questions and weight for answers. What more can be done?