Back from Iraq (part 2)

Well I just got back from visiting my friend's house and checking up on her little bro/former punching bag of mine who was injured from Iraq. While driving there I was a nervous wreck of emotions because honestly I didn't know what I would find since no one would give any clear description of his injuries. All I knew is that his arm and leg were hurt in an explosion and it required reconstructive surgery.

This family is so notoriously low key, he could've had half his torso blown away for all I'd known. Of course watching Born On the Fourth of July a few days earlier did nothing to ease my apprehension.



Well I'm happy to report that his injuries were not quite as severe as I had imagined. True, his arm and leg were immobilized, but he was still able get around under his own power. To my surprise, he was in pretty good spirits for someone who stared death in the face and lived. He had been gone for almost a year and I hadn't seen him in about 3 years, but it was like he had never left. I went into auto-pilot and the first thing I called him was "Tiny Tim" as he hobbled up to greet me. That made him crack up and the tension I was feeling was soon lifted as I continued to make light of his situation.



It was so surreal seeing this little kid I used to kick around all those years ago grown into a man. Although he is in his early twenties I could tell that being in Iraq has aged him. When I looked into his eyes, he looked like a man far beyond his years. There's no telling what he had seen or experienced during his tour, especially since he was right in the thick of the fighting or what kind of long term psychological effect it has had on him. I didn't care. I wasn't there to hear war stories. I was there to visit a friend. He's an impressive guy though. He still believes in why he's over there and is actually anxious in rejoining his buddies in Iraq. At first I thought it was typical military brain washing, but I could tell that he meant this from the bottom of his heart.

Speaking of which, I asked him if I could borrow his Purple Heart to pick up chicks. He told me I could after he was done with it.



Well after an hour of making fun of his god awful "jar head" hair cut and acknowledging that his scars were "more manly", (including a really cool one across his head) than mine, I talked to his mother in the kitchen. The first thing she asked me is what I thought about her daughter's new boyfriend. I said he looked like a pretty good guy. She looked at me and said, "he's an idiot". I was surprised and asked her why. She said that I was the best thing to happen to her daughter because I was the only one who "didn't take her bullshit". She had a point there. This particular ex tended to bull over her men until she meant me. She goes on to say that the new guy is a complete wimp and does anything she tells him to do. She went on to say that I was the only boyfriend she actually liked. This made me feel pretty good and I gave her a hug. I'm still fairly good friends with her daughter and all, but I think the main reason I keep her in my life is so I could still keep in touch with her incredible family.... I'm pretty sure she's adopted anyway.



Well it started getting late and I decided to head out, but not before poking "Tiny Tim's" leg with a stick. I said my good byes and left. I had a lot to think about on the way home. My problems just seemed so fucking petty compared to what this kid is going through. Plus the fact that he truly believes in what he is doing in Iraq and not having the attitude of "having to do it", like other people I know, makes me that more impressed with this guy. I don't necessarily agree with him, but I respect the hell out him. Plus like I said before--it's not about politics or personal agendas or any soapbox bullshit like that. It's about visiting a friend.