2am Ringie Dingie

 

I thought it odd that Tom had not called before I went to bed, then I remembered he's an hour earlier now in Houston.  So I just said to self, they're talking and having brother time and it's getting late.

I went on to bed;  took a sleeping pill and 1/2 a xanax trying to get some sleep......nope.

At 1:45am my cell rings Tom's tone.

He'd had a couple.

"Hey how are you?  We just finished watching a Vietnam movie" and I'm thinking at 2am??  OK 1AM their time.

I let him talk....he said "I just needed to talk to you, see how you were doing?"

Then he said a real odd thing about his term in Vietnam.  (Air Force Plane Mechanic)

He was irate that the government didn't do anything to help them and don't help now....seems that when one soldier died they sent home for a live body to replace him and for what?  Said it "just pisses me off".  What further irritated him is that he didn't have a choice of going or not......his number was pulled in the draft so he signed up and LOST his "childhood" or early manhood.

Then the phone when dead...guess the battery died.

It's the first time I've ever heard him put it quite that way.  He always seemed to almost enjoy or tollerate his tour; not being on the front line and all.

But he has said in the past how it's terrible to lose a friend in a senseless war.  He has also said how scarey it was to be sent 1/2 way around the globe at such a young age.  Military was not in his future.

I can sympathize with that.  I wouldn't have wanted to be snatched away against my own control.

No, I don't think it's Post Traumatic Stress  ----  I think it's more "tommydrama".

I called the Bro this morning and he was surprised when he heard Tom say this himself right after the movie.  I have been after Tom about watching old war documentary shows and history stuff like that. 

He needs comedy, not anymore drama to dwell on.

Anywho, Tom calls this afternoon from his bro's phone.  I asked why he called at 2am, he said just wanted to talk to you.

I said "Don't do that again!  You know I don't like drunks to call in the middle of the night - I don't put up with it from my father and I'm not going to do it with you!"

I made him say outloud so that bro could hear that he "would not call me drunk or drinking and late like that again" --- he needed to SAY the words to OWN the problem.

It's storming where he is.  We hung up.

Grrrrrrrrrr

Maybe I will sleep well tonight!

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