Putting Up a Fight
10/27/2005 | 
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The Sentinel
There's an old guy always sitting at the door outside my building. He's like the sentinel. Anyhow, I always wanna talk to him cuz he seems nice but i figure i should lay low lest he start asking me q's about which apt I live in, etc. But the other day, as i was walking back in, I mentioned something about the heat. Then we somehow started talking about Forida. And then the Navy. And then before I know it I'm getting stories about his days as a marine serving in China and then Korea and then 'Nam. He tells me how he won a purple heart. And a silver star for rescuing a soldier behind enemy lines. And then they realized they had actually gone into Laos (guess that was illegal) and so they hurried them out of 'Nam on a civilian plane in the tail and they flew to Guam and then to a base in California where no one knew what to do with them and they eventually wound up in Jersey. Still in their uniforms and combat gear and with loaded weapons from 'Nam and he said his body was 95% covered in sores.Then he wound up going back to 'Nam two more times. He told me about getting shot. His chopper was shot down three times. The last time he doesn't even remember. They told him he lost 75% of his memory after that. He used to speak Chinese and Vietnamese and was a machinist but all of that knowledge was gone. And then he had to start over again. His family didn't want to deal with him. He came home and eventually his wife pressed charges against him and said he pulled a gun on her. He told me, "I don't think I ever did that."
And then he kinda teared up and said that he wishes he had been able to teach his kids things that he never was able to. I asked like what. He said like how to be a good father. Cuz he never really was.
It was all pretty emotional. I wanted to say thank you to him because I felt like he gave up his own life and body to fight for this country. But i didn't really know how to phrase it. And really, what was he fighting for in vietnam? Tough to put a good spin on that. I felt like someone should say thanks though. I guess i hoped that by listening I was saying thanks in a way. Paying attention to someone who deserves it. And at least i know his name now: A.J.
Old people have so many layers of stories inside them. Memories, regrets, & adventures. Bubbling up, buried, rumbling around, wanting to come out.
10/14/2005 | Permalink |
Art opening/party for "Mechanique"
Friday night: Art opening/party for "Mechanique," a photography exhibition by Matt Ruby at Gallery 102. The show features photos of vintage arcade machine figures from Musee Mechanique in San Francisco (you can preview the photos at Flickr).
The evening's festivities will also include a DJ set by Ruby Lament, a bitchin' witches brew, fire escape shenanigans, and plenty more! Reception begins at 9pm and party will go late into the night 'cuz, well, why not. Gallery 102 is at 102 Clinton St #2 (btwn Delancey and Rivington). See ya Friday.
10/04/2005 | Permalink |
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