i had a laminectomy and missed vietnam
i sometimes wonder how my life would have been different
had i gone

one of my best friends and fellow football teammate
lived with me during our senior year of high school
(he had intense conflicts with his father)
after high school he joined the marines
and took the proverbial senior trip to 'nam
when he returned he was in extreme shell-shock
(PTS in today's "political speak")
his wife said he would not be able to function without his meds
well, either his meds or his functional-disability
spurred him to single-handily carry sofas on his shoulder
anyway, after graduate school, i worked for him briefly
in his furniture moving business
(he specialized in apartment moves)
2 men and a mack truck: will move

so, long-story-short
i know i have a lot of baggage now from my life before
but it could be of a different sort
had i gone to 'nam...