Chapter 3 - Julian Knew Dad Was Retired Military—Just Not How Senior
I never completely hid my father’s military background.
Why would I?
When Julian and I started dating, I said:
“Dad was Army.”
Julian asked:
“Career?”
“Yes.”
“Officer?”
“Yes.”
Then the waiter arrived.
Conversation moved on.
Later Julian met Arthur at:
a backyard barbecue.
Dad wore:
jeans,
flannel shirt,
old baseball cap.
Julian asked what he did.
Arthur answered:
“I work grounds and gardens for the county.”
Technically true.
Julian said:
“That’s a big change from the Army.”
Arthur smiled.
“Plants argue less.”
That became:
the story.
Dad never introduced himself as:
General Bennett.
He never corrected people who assumed:
retired captain,
major,
whatever.
Rank had become irrelevant to:
him.
I knew Julian thought Dad had been a:
mid-level career officer.
I did not care.
Why should I?
The man standing in front of him mattered more than:
the rank he once wore.
That assumption became revealing only because Julian treated different ranks—and different jobs—as different levels of:
May you like
human value.
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