Twist of Fate

Was a high school drop out during the Vietnam Conflict. Wanted to hitch hike across the USA and discover the unexpected. Just me and a friend. Actually he was a sniper in Vietnam and drank anything that contained alcohol. Pass out anywhere, wet pants and all. That war sure got to him. He couldn't even go hunting. All he could see was squirrels wearing those straw pointed hats. At age 7 me and my brother who was a year older than me, got into my dads shotgun shells. We got some hot wood and set that shot gun shell on it and we sat there. I lowered to the ground and blew real hard on the wood. I sat back up and we waited and? Donnie my sniper friend laid in the weeds by the gravel road with a .38 special and they showed up and stopped right where Donnie was laying. As those drunks were yelling out the windows, Donnie slipped around his car and slammed that cold steel against his skull. Country living is great, but you can't live alone because it gets too quiet. People do some of the stupidest things. A man shows up on my door step and tells me he burned a Holy Bible and I told him to get away before God strikes us both. I knew he was doomed and God came after him and I watched him the whole time because he lived in a cottage around the corner. In approximately three months I watched him and I was the only one that knew he was going to die. When that boat ran over me only because I forgot to take it out of gear. It was full throttle! Took up roofing back then and you will consume more cold beer than should be permitted! Guess it's the heat. Seen him pull his hatchet back as he was hammering and hit his forehead. Ever been around a hot tar kettle? You don't want to! We found our way up the mountain, but could not find our way back down. Lost and no water or food left and it was just the three of us. We sat on this rock scarred to move. Because the further you walked the farther you get from civilization. They averaged six deaths a month. Hike at your own risk signs were everywhere. Rake up body parts from cyclist that are not skilled and over the mountain they go down to the rocks. My father was born on the 4th. of July and he would say everybody celebrates my birthday! We would head out to the grandpas farm and blow up carbide. That was a real blast! Those fishing tourist with that camera around their neck and they have that Hawaiian shirt on. Those are the ones that turn green before they ever leave the dock. They just crack me up. Not sure if he ever took a picture, I no for a fact ne never dropped the bait in the water. He knew how to chum the waters. A cigarette saved my life and to this day I can still see that white cloud from those bricks! I knew what had happened 30 seconds earlier. Stared fate in the eyes and my heart was racing. Just sat down and lite another one. Finally you can read how it saved a person instead of killing them. Quit since then and now I am on my 10th. life. A fifty year adventure I can share with you my "twist of fate, expect the unexpected"!