Nov

29

Vietnam Today

Filed Under Return To Vietnam, Vietnam Today 

by Lawrence Fuller

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This is a guest post by Larry Fuller who is presently in Vietnam on a road of rediscovery. Larry is a friend of a friend (Charlie Dana). Following is a shortened version of his letter home:

Recent storm knocked out power and computer at my hotel, so I have wandered over here to the post office to see about sending some stuff home. Low and behold…I have found some good computers to use.  I wonder how much it’s going to cost?!
 
Since the storm knocked out power, most of us sat in the lobby and talked by candlelight.  After everyone decided to go to bed, I decided to go out in the storm (it was just a little storm).  I wanted to find this Indian restaurant, strangely named “Omar Khyam’s Restaurant.”  I knew the guy.  He struck me as an excellent businessman and very organized. 

Wearing my Wal-Mart special bright yellow poncho, I wandered the deserted streets and BINGO!  There it was…a beacon of Indian de-light!  He had the generator running always hopeful for another customer…and I was it! 

I pulled off the poncho, hung it on the coat rack in the corner, and found a table facing the street.  Outside, the wind was whipping the branches of the trees and the rain was beating against the windows,  Inside, it was as cozy as could be with gentle classical Spanish guitar music playing over the speakers.  Yes…it was one of THOSE moments! 

I decided to order the Lamb Curry with hot masala tea and relax.  He and I talked.  He was Indian and was one of these guys who just got up from where he was, got out of a bad situation, and had built 8 restaurants throughout Vietnam. 

I took my time and enjoyed the meal.  The storm lashed the streets and his restaurant’s background music couldn’t have been more appropriate.  I had selected one of the more expensive dishes on the menu.  After all, it was Australian lamb!  I thought, “Dog gone it…I deserve it and am worth every penny.”  Filled with the delicious meal, I finally got up, paid the $3.50 bill, donned my trusty poncho and stepped back out into the night.
 
The street was filled with the bustle of motor-bikes, trucks, bicycles, cars, peddle rickshaws, and other indescribable forms of transportation. 

Suddenly, I heard an American voice behind me, “Can you tell me how to get to a park.”  I twisted around and noted a gentleman about my age standing there.  His name was Lloyd, and he was 60 years of age.  He wanted a place where he could just sit and think.  He had been an American Army draftee, who had served multiple tours in Vietnam way back when. 

I could sense some sort of identity with him and could see on his face that he had struggled mightily with life.  He was from Indiana.  He needed someone to talk to and I didn’t mind.  As a matter of fact I wanted to…talking with someone who cares and could use some help. 

He had struggled with the demons that had crept inside him from that War.  He had lived a life of alcoholism crashing from one disaster to the next.  His latest setback was a home and a bank that had foreclosed on him.  No one had helped him with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder until just lately. 

He had been angry with the Army and angry with every thing.  He had finally quit drinking 6 years ago and now…every day was a challenge.  He said he had returned to where his Vietnamese Army camp was located and found the Buddhist temple where he once entered with a gun. 

I didn’t push for details.  He said he had just broken down in tears when he left the temple and I think this had been a good turning point for him. 

We talked about Heaven and Hell, good and bad, the reason for our existence, and America.  We both knew we had an appointment up the road.  I said, “Let’s get up and find that park.”  He was going to head for Laos the next day. 

We found the park and he thanked me.  We were both on the road and I am grateful for having met him. 

May God bless him.

Comments

2 Responses to “Vietnam Today”

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