I don't eat at McDonald's often, but sometimes I like to go
there for breakfast and quietly listen to the old geezers gab. It's kind of
like rainbows. Just because it's been raining doesn't mean you're going to see
a rainbow.
Likewise, if you go to breakfast at McDonald’s it doesn’t mean your
going to be able to eavesdrop on two old men in conversation, but sometimes you
just get lucky.
Today, I listened to two codgers talk about a portion of
their time in the service. The one was talking about being promoted to “buck”
sergeant while the other thought he was too stupid to be promoted, but was
promoted anyway.
From there, one wondered aloud what it would have been like
if he hadn’t “knocked up” his wife and he could have retired with pension. The
other had a funny story about how he got to Hawaii on Oahu and instead of going to Kaneohe as his orders instructed him, he went to
Waikiki and had
fun until his money ran out. Having nowhere else to go, he reported to the base
where they put him in the brig. Somebody was finally able to get him out of
trouble, but he was put into a reconnaissance unit against his wishes.
As I sat and listened intently, I pretended to be interested
in sprinkling salt and pepper on the yellow mass of egg-looking material.
I could have piped up and said I was in the Army for four
years. I could have told them I was also stationed in Hawaii - but it’s important to keep your mouth shut in these situations. Otherwise you
snap them out of their moment in time, which in this case is forty-some years
ago. The next thing you know, they might drift to talking about the price of
gas and milk or the construction over at Race and Glenway. No. It’s best to
stay out of it as they carry on about a different time as if nobody else is
around. I love this.
Ever have this experience? What have you heard?
- Jim Allen
(Photo from www.utterz.com)