Well gang, I braved yet another appointment at the VA hospital yesterday. That’s Veteran’s Administration for those of you who are not familiar. It’s where us poor old vets go for health care. No major issues to handle but my doctor thought I should get my eyes checked for glaucoma now that I am officially OVER the proverbial hill of 35. It would seem that after you cross that imaginary boundary the warranty expires on EVERYTHING! Eyes, knees, heart, prostate, etc. So back to yesterday’s appointment. I’m perched in the waiting room thinking it will be a relatively quick affair because I actually have an appointment (silly me, nothing is fast in a government facility) and I am surrounded by a bunch of men who look like they have outlived their own expiration date! There were at least two World War II veterans there! Anyway, I was just getting ready to completely zone out with my walkman and a good book when I overheard some of the conversation that was taking place. Old men are some of the funniest people I have ever met. Can we talk!?

I was originally drawn into the conversation because they were giving some pretty good health advice about high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Hey, these guys have lived through all of this stuff and they know. I figured I should listen since I have high cholesterol and one of the guys was four years older than me and was a heart attack survivor! ANYWAY, that conversation migrated into stories of getting laid. Don’t even ask me how. The funniest man had to be about 75 to 80 years old and he was telling stories about when he was on some island in the pacific and standing in line for some prostitute along with 100 other sailors. Well that just opened the door for all the other old coots to relate all the places they received the clap. Korea, Japan and the Philippines were all markers on one sailors list! They were all funny as hell! I have several uncles who are about the same age as these gentlemen (and I use the term loosely) but none of them are as funny. I guess because I’m their nephew they probably feel they can’t relate such stories. Maybe I should break the ice and tell them some of my own stories. Hmm… Now that I think of it, maybe not! I don’t want to be the cause of death for any of my uncles!!!