So today I was walking on my way out of the VA hospital today after my appointment. I went to the vending machines to get a snack and a soda. Then this old black guy comes up to me and says" He what up big man?" I said "I am doing fine." then when I reached down to get my soda he is already there and got it for me. So I said thank you and he just started talking to me.
At first I was like who the fuck is this and what the fuck is he talking about. Then like a half a minute later he started making sense. He went on to tell me that he is a vietnam veteran and he has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have that also but from this recent Iraq war, and I get therapy and all that. So we start talking and sharing about experiences and coping methods and all that. He tells me that he has been out of Prison for 23 years now. He went in because he was bank robbber. Now he has cancer and he is diabetic, and he has 2 sons in college and he is happy even though he has this sickness he lives on. We talk about being young and making different choices and accepting what you are dealt and making the best of it.
So he tells me that he smokes weed and plays a lot of chess with his friends that are black and hispanic mostly. Oh yeah he didn't have many nice things to say about white folks but, then agian he lived in the days where blacks did not have civil rights. Anyways I told him that I play chess and I smoke weed so he gave me his number and told me to call him and we can smoke and play some chess. So I called him and I am going to leave for his place in a little bit.
The talk made me think a lot about my life and the choices I make and how they could effect my future. It also reinforced my don't sweat the small stuff way of thinking because there are way bigger problems in the world, and other people sometime might be hurting more than you or just as much at least, and you can still live a full life and be happy.
So everytime I think I have a big problem (other than my PTSD) I just try to put it into perspective with the rest of the world and the people with real problems.
At first I was like who the fuck is this and what the fuck is he talking about. Then like a half a minute later he started making sense. He went on to tell me that he is a vietnam veteran and he has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have that also but from this recent Iraq war, and I get therapy and all that. So we start talking and sharing about experiences and coping methods and all that. He tells me that he has been out of Prison for 23 years now. He went in because he was bank robbber. Now he has cancer and he is diabetic, and he has 2 sons in college and he is happy even though he has this sickness he lives on. We talk about being young and making different choices and accepting what you are dealt and making the best of it.
So he tells me that he smokes weed and plays a lot of chess with his friends that are black and hispanic mostly. Oh yeah he didn't have many nice things to say about white folks but, then agian he lived in the days where blacks did not have civil rights. Anyways I told him that I play chess and I smoke weed so he gave me his number and told me to call him and we can smoke and play some chess. So I called him and I am going to leave for his place in a little bit.
The talk made me think a lot about my life and the choices I make and how they could effect my future. It also reinforced my don't sweat the small stuff way of thinking because there are way bigger problems in the world, and other people sometime might be hurting more than you or just as much at least, and you can still live a full life and be happy.
So everytime I think I have a big problem (other than my PTSD) I just try to put it into perspective with the rest of the world and the people with real problems.
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
bondgurl:
Hey nice to meet ya. Ummm I'm going to Boston to meet some people from here and I'm reeeeeeeeaaaaalllly excited lol! 
brigette:
What a great story... I love those little random moments that life gives you... and they end up being the most memorable, spectacularly life-changing events.
