Vietnam, rather than the weather and everyone’s health, was a topic of conversation at a recent family wedding and I was amazed at what came of it:

“We only got married because Jim wanted to have sex before he died. He thought he would die over there. I did too. My father refused to lend us the down payment for a house before Jim shipped out. He said, ‘Waddaya need a house for? Jim’s just gonna die over there.’”

“It’s good you kids all seem to have plans. I didn’t have a plan, I was 1-A. When I got back, though, my lack of a plan kind of blew up in my face… because I didn’t blow up. Stay in school.”

“I know you guys think it’s funny that Uncle Bill can’t move his neck, but he was in Nam. The man’s decorated. He was a hero, but the kind that got piss thrown on him when he got back home. You really don’t know how lucky you are.”

“No shame in Canada. I served, but I knew guys that went north. I wasn’t ashamed to go and see them off, but I am ashamed to see soldiers on food stamps now. It’s a back door draft, now. Nobody volunteers to fight a meaningless war.”