BOOMERPDX INTERVIEW: ONE VETERAN, ONE STUDENT, ONE PARENT

A faux-BoomerPDX interview works to paint a citizenship picture, a mosaic, by covering nervous subjects.

For this edition it’s a veteran, a student, and a parent doing the work.

And they have plenty to say. Take a read:

BoomerPdx Interview: The Student

Student: I’m not sure why you asked me to do a Boomerpdx interview.

Me: Thank you for agreeing. The reason I chose a student is based on opinions about education. Let’s start. Have you ever considered dropping out of school?

Student: The only reason I graduated from high school was sports. I couldn’t play if I dropped out.

Me: And you had to keep your GPA up to be eligible.

Student: Yes, I did. Luckily, I had help.

Me: You talked to the counselors? Were they helpful?

Student: No, they weren’t helpful. If I had taken their advice I would have dropped out and found a job. They acted like I was wasting their time just being in their office.

Me: If not academic counselors, who helped?

Student: Did you ever play sports? My coaches helped. They don’t want guys on their teams dropping out. It’s a bad look all around when athletes are too dumb to stay in school.

Me: Were you a good athlete?

Student: I was as good an athlete as I was a student. Never scored a touchdown, or shot a game winner in basketball, but it was fun. And that was enough to keep me in school.

Me: Did you go to college?

Student: I went to many colleges. I was what is called a ‘non-traditional student.’

Me: What does that mean?

Student: It means I didn’t graduate in four or five years, changed my major, lost class hours with every transfer. When the catalogue changes, requirements change.

Me: Did you graduate?

Student: Even better. I graduated and also worked in my major’s field. Took graduate classes, continuing education, Discovery Channel.

Me: That’s great. Thank you for your time.

BoomerPdx Interview: The Parent

Me: Thank you for meeting me. Have you always wanted to be a parent?

Parent: I suppose, but it’s more about meeting the right person. Parenting is too hard to do alone.

Me: What are the hard parts?

Parent: Kids take so much time. All of it. Even when I’m not with them I feel like I should be, and that sort of changes whatever else I’m doing.

Me: Can you give us an example?

Parent: I used to be selfish with my time. Call it protective. I decided what I’d do, and who I’d do it with. Kids change that equation. Now they are who I’m selfish with. I want to spend all of my time with them.

Me: Have you experienced parent burnout?

Parent: No, we love our time together.

Me: Have the kids experienced parent burnout?

Parent: If you have kids, you know that’s impossible. Kids need their parents more than ever.

Me: Do you help them with their homework?

Parent: Yes, I do. And I add more. I take them where they need to be, and where I’d like them to be.

Me: Are you a Tiger Parent?

Parent: A what?

Me: One who over-schedules their kids so they don’t have time to figure out who they are on their own?

Parent: On their own? Who allows that. What kind of parent does that?

Me: Thank you for your time.

BoomerPdx Interview: The Veteran

Me: How do you feel when people thank you for your service.

Veteran: Then don’t. No one thanks me for my service.

Me: Why is that?

Veteran: Because I don’t milk it. No veteran T-shirt, hat, no tattoo. No Harley, ponytail, or ex-wives. It’s not an issue.

Me: Do you talk about your service. Would you like to?

Veteran: Yes, I would. Here we go: I served.

Me: That’s it?

Veteran: That’s it for a citizen soldier. Get in, get out, get along.

Me: You make it sound so easy. Was your service easy?

Veteran: No easier or harder than anyone I served with. I was attached to Fort Dix, New Jersey. Ever hear of Wrightstown.

Me: No. Who did you serve with?

Veteran: The usual cast of characters. All races, colors, and creeds of every age. It was like a visit to the United Nations, except we were all on the same page.

Me: It sounds noble.

Veteran: That’s how it sounds to people who never wore the uniform. For the rest of us, it’s just another day. We knew what we signed up for. If we didn’t, we learned soon enough.

Me: Were you ever deployed?

Veteran: To New Jersey. I call that a deployment.

Me: Were you ever deployed to a war zone?

Veteran: New Jersey was a war zone in the Revolutionary War, so there’s that.

Me: New Jersey was a war zone.

Veteran: The war when I was there happened in Wrightstown between retired NCO’s on crack and everyone else. The NCO’s were winning last time I checked.

Me: Do you stay in touch with anyone from your service time?

Veteran: No, but I’m not against it. There’s a few I’d like to see, a few I’d avoid. Like real life.

Me: Are you glad you served?

Veteran: After my first day on base I knew it was a big mistake. I knew right away I didn’t belong there. Later, I framed my honorable discharge, DD 214, and college diploma. They all fit together to remind me I finished a few things.

Me: And we’re finished here. Thank you for your . . .

Veteran: What did I say about that?

Me: Time. Thank you for your time.

Veteran: You’re welcome.