More Army Stories 1991-1994
We emptied out his aftershave and peed inside the bottle. I took this photo a second before he realized what was going on.
Honey wishes I still looked like that. I think when I shave my head she still sees that person. Suspended disbelief I think they call it. I should shave my head more often.
My parents came to visit me one Saturday in the desert. It may have been the first time my father drove on a Sabbath. There wasn’t much to say, and if there was, we didn’t know how to say it. My enthusiasm for the army was gone by then, and I still had two and a half more years to go and two funerals to attend.
29 comments:
Y'all are terrible. Peeing in a man's aftershave...that could be part of our senior prank.
It's interesting to hear more about you and your military experiences. We evidently served during the same period, as I was in the U.S. Army from 1991-1996
Reminds me of a time in college when a buddy and I were plastered drunk at his dorm from the bottle of tequila we had just finished. He bet me I couldn't pee into the bottle, so of course I had to prove him wrong, and by the time I had it all figured out as to how to get my fly open and start peeing, he had run to his room and retrieved his camera. Of course the picture got posted in a few rather public places... heh...
Woozie, enjoy. It's harmless (apart from the risk of Tuberculosis, Tularemia, Typhoid Fever, and Typhus. And Scabies. And Malaria. And Anthrax. Maybe not Anthrax).
Leo, that's interesting. Only 3 years for me. While you were still in the military I was busy doing everything I could to forget.
Snave, I think I've seen that picture... Anyway, the question is what happened with the bottle?
That sucks. I cannot imagine going through what you have gone through. They buried a soldier from Minnesota today. It seems to be happening far too often. It shouldn't be happening at all. I suppose that's a little bit too Pollyanna.
Interesting stories. Thanks for sharing.
Who Hijacked Our Country
I like the one of you and dad.
I believe there is always something to talk about, that only people with sucky social skills enable awkward silence.
But my opinion has changed on that. And sometimes silence is desired, necessary.
Shelli, a couple of days ago I saw a guy who just came back from Iraq with PTSD. He was bouncing off from one wall to another, sitting down and immediately getting up again, rubbing his eyes until his whole face was red. I didn't go through anything. Not really.
Tom, thanks.
durante, "only people with sucky social skills enable awkward silence." -- that would be me and Dad. (and thanks for not forgetting me even though I left a funny comment on your blog and then thought you might not find it too funny and that I may have gone a bit too far there).
Now those are some great images. The pee in the after shave thing must have been hard to live down.
The other picture says what you have said and much more. It must have been very tough being in the IDF.
I think the photo of you and your dad is amazing.
Ricardo, the man never took a shower, and all of a sudden he started using aftershave. We couldn't just let that one pass. He knew he deserved it.
I want to say it was nothing, and that I just realized what I'd been through when it was over, but I wrote letters that prove the opposite so I shouldn't lie. It was three years of bullshit with a lot of fun moments scattered around.
Spooky, thanks. I love that picture too.
Aw, look at me on your blog via blogexplosion as if I'm seeing your blog for the first time. So cute.
durante, you haven't lived until you've seen my blog through Google Reader. (and from today, through feed burner).
And welcome to Blog Explosion. (or have you been there for a while? I don't even remember how I got to your blog for the first time. Maybe it had something to do with Intelligent Design?)
I just want you to know that this image of you and your dad has stayed in my mind long after I left this page. It says a lot.
Thanks for posting it!
Dan
If the guy never showered then he deserved that and more. What is this the dark ages?
Dan, thanks. In that case I owe another thank you to my sister. I'm glad you leave this place with something to think about. That's a great compliment.
Ricardo, his father was a nuclear physicist. Does it explain anything? Didn't think so, but I just remembered it.
I guess guys are more forgiving. I woulda had my friend exiled if she ever urinated in my facial cleanser!!
I don't think I need to comment much to let you know how this image touches my heart.
I am very impressed with your blog. I think you have a great deal of knowledge to share. And, I am deeply touched by this particular piece. I have been as of late trying to point out some of the blogs that I believe to be truthful about the reality of the current times. I would very much like to have your blog be my next featured site of the week...but, I will not do it without your permission. I am however, going to blog roll you...don't know why I haven't thought of it before. please let me know if I may indeed feature you as my pick for the week. And if you could also send me a screen shot of your site that would be great...if not I will use your banner. ~jackie
Kali, at the time he appreciated the joke. I don't know if he would appreciate me putting the picture up here, though. Well, what can you do.
Shinade, thanks for that. I'm glad it did.
Moondanzer, thanks again. (by the way, are you and Shinade the same person?)
And of course you have my permission to do anything you want with this blog. I would have been honored even if you put it in a "worst site of the week" list. And feel free to use the banner as well. Thank you so much for that. And I'll put a link to your site as well.
You are so techie right now. I don't even know what Google Reader is or what feed burner is.
I like the "...you haven't lived..." part. Ha! I'm working that into everyday language. I literally laughed out loud. For once, I can legitimately use LOL. Oh my.
durante, I'm a nerd! How did that happen? Actually, when I said Google Reader and Feed Burner I meant booze and football, both of which I'm really into at the moment. And I like to eat chicken wings at Hooters.
איזה קטעים
What language is that? Seems so holy!
Pissing in the aftershave? There were plenty of horrible pranks in the army, but that is a new one to me.
By the way, i did four years in the field artillery, but in the 1980s in Germany. It was a good place and time to be an American soldier---as far as soldiering goes, that is. The only trauma and stress I dealt with entailed my first sergeant and any number of other dickheads. (Pardon the language, but your post inspired me.)
MS, I also had a relatively quiet time. I was in the West Bank and Gaza between the two Intifadas, which meant relatively less rocks thrown at me than before my time and none of the insanity that started after I left.
I think the image of the American soldier enlisting to better himself while he gets to see the world is quickly disappearing. Young people today know better. As much as I appreciate people who wish to contribute to their society to the point of self-sacrifice, the current loss of faith in the American military is probably a good thing, as it has become an instrument of corrupt politicians, abused by a quest for individual power.
Hey, ma kore? I served from 92-95. I liked your blog. Good luck
Ariel, when you say "I liked your blog. Good luck" it seems like you're never coming back here. Is is true?
Glad that I never had to borrow aftershave from you... you have grown and won't do it now - yeah right!
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