Had a Meaningful Experience

[Talys]

So, people change a lot in college. That has little to do with my experience, but it just helps set up my story a little bit. So anyway, my one female friend realized in the first semester of her junior year of college (last school year) that she was not completely straight and started dating a girl in her school. She and I had been good friends for years so I of course was very happy she found someone that made her really happy (she had had issues with people she dated in the past) and was excited to meet this girl. The chance came quite soon after I found the news out, the same night actually, for apparently she was coming into town and they were going to XS - a gay club about 20 minutes away from my house. They invited me and another of our mutual friends along and I agreed to go. So anyway, that sets up the story. Me, another guy, my friend, and her girlfriend at a gay bar. No, my experience was not one of "those" experiences.

Anyway, in the parking lot we decided to do a few shots of tequilla, being the rambunctious lot of teenagers we are, and while there another one of my female friend's friends comes along. Now, let me tell you a little bit about this guy. He was a young man in the army, couldn't be too much over thirty. He had two kids and retired early with a purple heart after being brain damaged by a bullet in Iraq. One would never be able to tell by the way he talked or carried himself what had happened and didn't like to talk much about his injury. In fact I only knew about it because my friend told me that sometimes his thinking process is off and that he explained it to her drunk once in Honduras (they and a few others had gone to Honduras on a medical volunteer program). He was at the club to meet up with my friend and another of their mutual friends to reminisce about their trip. He partook in a few shots with us, knowing many of us were underage, and we continued into the club.

I had a very good night, all things considered. Danced with the two girls (very nice...apparently coming out makes it ok to dance as sexually as you want with a guy...) and a random third, smoked cigars with the other guy in our group, and went for more tequilla shots at half time. At some point in the night a few of us became obviously too drunk to continue so we went to the car to head home, designated driver and I laughing at the others. Our army veteran friend rushed out to say goodbye. It was here that I had my experience. This made the night and pretty much my whole life mean more to me.

It all started for me when I made a military branch comment, asking which he was part of saying that my dad was in the Navy and that I understood about the branch wars and everything. He just laughed and said that he didn't care about the branch wars anymore. That he had lost too many Marine friends to care. Somewhere within the goodbyes my friend spoke to Mr. Army and said something to the extent of -

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about *motion's to her girlfriend* this when we were in Honduras."

To which he replies something like-

"Don't worry about it. You're living your lives which is more than a lot of my friends can say. Remember that. You guys, you here, you have the chance to live. I have the chance to live. I'm lucky. You're lucky. To see you guys out here having a good time, drinking tequilla, dancing...it shows that you're alive. Listen, I want you guys to do me a favor. I want you to live your lives not just for yourselves, but also for my friends. Have a great time while you can, because you won't always be able to. Next time you're in DC and get a chance to by Arlington, look at their graves and remember it."

His speech went on for more than that and with a lot more meaning...I honestly don't even know how to write it out. What was more amazing is that he said this all with a smile. It wasn't a sad thing. It wasn't an frustrating or angering thing. No, he was honestly happy to see us out and having a good time and wanted us to never stop. After this I have a complete new outlook and intend to make things count...just wanted to share this...

By the way, he is actually writing a book to be published by a name I knew when he told me, but can't remember now...

[Ander]

That's awesome. I had a similar experience talking to one of my ex-girlfriend's father, who was an Army Ranger in Vietnam. Those kinds of people have a way of really putting things into perspective. It's good that you were able to take something away from that.

[Talys]

Yeah, expected the night to at most be and awkward experience, but it turned out great.