Paleontologist, were it not for Vietnam.

On Friday, after picking up Bean from daycare,

she and I made a little trip to Wally-World.

As always, we make a trip to the toy aisles.

Our Plaquemine Walmart has lots missing but the one

thing in high abundance is TOYS!

My bean chooses two one dollar dinosaurs and a giraffe.

We head to the check out counter as she has her

dinosaurs kiss each other as well as herself and I.

While waiting, I notice a disheveled older man behind us.

Bean, being like her Mumsie in some ways, has to 

make conversation with this man as she

shows him her dinosaurs.

"She likes those dinosaurs, huh?"

Yes, I explain she chose them over the Barbie I really wanted to get.

He begins to tell me about his interest in dinosaurs

and about how he has been to Texas where there is a park 

all about dinosaurs. Of course, I embark in conversation.

I take a better look at our new friend.

He probably has just gotten off of work as he

is quite dirty with steel-toe boots,

his hair can use a good wash and cut,

there are some dental problems...

and yet, he is the nicest man, spending

his afternoon to speak to me and the cute little

girl with dinosaurs in her hands.

He then under his breath says,

"I wanted to be a paleontologist when I grew up.."

He has a wistful look on his face.

"... then Vietnam happened and all that changed."

I right away, again think of my brother, another

Vietnam soldier.

I wonder, could this man have been a paleontologist

had it not been for a war who took away dreams from him?

My first thoughts are, no way, there doesn't seem to be

the education there that would have involved this.

I am wrong, I believe, because as he continues to explain

stories of what he has seen at this park,  I know 

had been given the chance, he like many young minds out there

could have achieved all he would have wanted.

I explain,

"My brother was in Nam, we lost a part of him over there."

He nods his head, makes eye contact with me and

says, 

"I left a big part of myself over there."

Again, I am left with the wonderment of what our world would 

be had there never been wars.