Parallel Lives

Damn, Sgt Hook has some deep readers....

Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.
He stays up for days on end.
__________________________
You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.
__________________________
You complain of a “headache”, and call in sick.
He gets shot at, as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
__________________________
You put on your anti-war/don’t support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
__________________________
You make sure your cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dogtags.
__________________________
You talk trash on your “buddies” that aren’t with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.
__________________________
You don’t feel like helping out your dad today, so you don’t.
He does what he is told.
__________________________
You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
__________________________
You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.
__________________________
You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He does not get to eat today.
__________________________
Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for months, but makes sure his weapons are clean.
__________________________
You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn’t have time to brush his teeth today.
__________________________
You are angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He is told he will be held an extra 2 months. He does as he is told.
__________________________
You call your girlfriend and set a date for that night.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
__________________________
You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do every day.
He holds his letter close and smells his love’s perfume.
__________________________
You ditch class to go to a movie.
He goes where he is told.
__________________________
You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they’ll ever meet.
__________________________
You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own government and remembers why he is fighting.
__________________________
You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of the men like him.
He hears the gunfire and bombs.
__________________________
You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the bodies lying around him.
__________________________
You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don’t.
He does what he is told.
__________________________
You stay at home and watch tv.
He takes whatever time he is given to call and write home, sleep, and eat.
__________________________
You crawl into your bed, with down pillows, and try to get comfortable.
He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be awakened by gunfire.
__________________________
You sit there and judge him, saying the world is a worse place because of men like him.
If only there were more men like him .

H/T Sgt Hook