VETERAN #2/100

Meet Christopher King, originally posted in my 100 Strangers project, but now reposting as Veteran #2 in my newly created 100 Veterans Project. Across the street from ARCH (Austin Resource Center for the Homeless) I walked by Christopher and he asked me if I knew the downtown Austin area. I told him I was fairly new to Austin and didn't. I asked Christopher if he was on the streets, shamefully he said he had been for 4 days now. "This ain't me." he said. (At this point Christopher hadn't told me his name, nor had I asked.) He asked me "Do you pray?" Thinking this was taking a turn towards Christopher trying to save my soul I said, "Well, yes, but that's kind of a private matter." He looked me in the eye and said, "My name is Christopher King, and I'd appreciate it if you'd remember my name and pray for me when you do." I silently chastised myself. I could see that Christopher was struggling with being on the streets of downtown Austin, so I mentioned growing up in California and the reasons for my moving to Fort Worth and then to Austin. It wasn't a hard luck story, just my story is all. Christopher mentioned having grown up in, (and just four days ago), leaving McKinney, Texas. Over the course of the conversation Christopher mentioned being a Marine and having served in Mogadishu, Somalia. Christopher told me he has since suffered from seizures and PTS (Post Traumatic Syndrome). Christopher never mentioned anything beyond that, but if you've ever seen Black Hawk Down it's not hard to imagine what he may have been through. I sincerely thanked Christopher for his service to our country. He didn't acknowledge my comment, so I wasn't sure if he'd heard me. As we talked Christopher mentioned liking California. He said he'd been stationed in Camp Pendleton and rattled off enough training terms and acronyms for me to know he had served this country. When he finished talking I thanked him again for his service to our country. Christopher softly said, "I wish my Dad felt that way." In my mind's eye, I see a son who'd served this country, but just couldn't get his life back on track, and a father who had lost his patience. I see the frustration of a son who'd rather live on the streets, (with nothing more than a backpack and a ball cap), than to continue living in his hometown of McKinney, Texas. I wonder where life will take him. As I've grown older I've seen how one simple decision can dramatically alter the course of our lives. Will the father and the son ever look back with regret? The truth is I have no what happened. I didn't ask. I didn't pry. I did pray for Christopher King last night and I will do so again. He is my 2nd Veteran in the Flickr challenge to shoot photos of 100 Veterans: www.flickr.com/groups/100veterans/

Photo Location

Congress Ave District
Austin
Travis County
Texas
United States

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Reference

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vailncourt/6854157415/

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