Welcome, Ven a gozar!

As I stood in line for my flu shot today, I remembered an uncle who passed away several years ago. He had participated in WWII as a belly gunner in a bomber aircraft. He flew and landed at least three planes by himself, because his crew had been killed from either flak exploding around their plane, or fighter aircraft machine gun fire. He used to tell me in some detail how they cleaned out the plane, including draining the blood from the bodies that had pooled in the lower sections of the plane’s belly. Unfortunately for him, he saw a lot of death, and carnage during his time in the war.

My uncle had a funny secret, he was terrified of needles! He never submitted to a shot after his military service for over twenty-five years. I went with him to the doctor that day because he needed something that could only be given through a needle. When he saw the needle, he suddenly slumped and started sliding to the floor. He had passed out from fear! He had told me he was scared of needles, but I never believed him until then. A grown man, war survivor and hero, passing out from the sight of a needle, what a funny sight!

What a funny way to remember someone, and not very flattering to say the least. Every time I find myself in a flu shot line, or giving blood, I have the same humorous memory of my uncle slowly sinking to the floor. Only in my memory he is wearing his military uniform with his medals pinned on his chest that he never showed anyone while he was alive.

Comments (0) Nov 06 2007