True Lies

[TRUTH]

The things your read here are true. At least I know or believe them to be true. Tomorrow I may believe something different. Truth is in perception. My truth may not be yours. It is only my reality. If my reality bumps into yours, I apologize. Some truths we choose not to believe. Some we cannot deny. And some truths we will not hear. Those truths we choose to follow on faith are usually lies. A lie told often enough becomes truth.

So come with me into my world of truth and lies. Suspend your reality and enjoy the beauty of truth.

[TRUTH]

I am not the man I was before. Science tells us that a human undergoes a personality change every seven years or so. Feelings change, habits change. The seven year itch kicks in and suddenly you hate pizza and love spinach.

My transformation goes deeper. My scars are deep and lasting. I grew up a latch key kid. My parents divorced when I was in junior high. Both of these facts contributed to my independent and self-sufficient nature. In high school I was a social loner. Many friends but just as happy being alone. I floated between worlds. The glorious jock to burner boy. Different circles for different moods.

I only wanted to be one of two things. A professional soccer player or a Marine. When the old NASL League folded my decision was made. The last years of high school were torture for me. I really didn't want to be there. I skipped every chance I got. I managed to get A's and B's to keep from being noticed so I could blow off class whenever I wanted. I could never get thru today with all this mandatory attendance crap.

As a senior I did respectably on the SAT's with a 1260 when I was still thinking of playing at UVA. In the end I went for the Marines. My mother cried of course. Especially since she had to sign for me. I had skipped a grade when I was young so I was only 17. I was starting on a journey that wouldn't turn out the way I expected.

TO BE CONTINUED............

[TRUTH]

CONTINUED FROM ABOVE


I liked the Marines. It was easy for me. I was a 4th generation Marine and I knew what to expect in boot camp. I was already in shape, though the Corps made me harder. After Infantry school I got sent to Kaneohe, HI to A Co. 1st Bat. 3rd. Marines or A 1/3 for short. Soon after my arrival we deployed overseas for 6 months and did what we do, which is train, train, train. I got promoted meritoriously and went to NCO School during this time. We went a lot of places after intially basing in Okinawa. I spent time in the Phillipines, Thailand, Japan, Australia and other places. It was interesting. Seeing how other peoples live compared to America is always a shock of sorts. The thing I always remember about Japan was how clean the cities are. In the Phillipines, I'll remember shacks built with cardboard and bar-girls.

After our deployment was over we returned to HI and I went to the Small Unit Leaders Course. I was always trying to go to school. Besides being interesting it got me out of more mundane duty. I got promoted meritoriously to Corporal soon after that. My life path was changing and I still didn't know it. I was still in love with the Corps and I believed.

TO BE CONTINUED

[TRUTH]

You know, I thought I could tell certain things but after thinking about it for a couple of weeks I find I can't. I probably shouldn't anyway, at least not the details. I can say that I learned a lot as a Marine though I didn't like everything that I learned. Most ppl go their whole lives with blinders on thinking eveything is right with the world. I learned differently. Things are like a mild form of the Matrix except it's not machines controlling us it's other ppl. And those ppl lie. They play both sides and they put ppl in situations that make you feel dirty. You see and do things that you cannot forget. You let yourself be used as a tool. You walk in places of poverty and hopelessness and you come to understand why there are those who hate America. The farmer whose daughter works as a bar girl for $5 a lay so they can eat. The doctor who sells drugs to keep his practice open.