Did any major events occur while you were in the military? Did you regret missing them?

I suppose this question raises a question: What the hell is he talking about? Allow me to explain. I feel as though I had fallen off the planet for five years. A year in Infantry School (BCT, AIT, Infantry OCS). A year in Vietnam. Five years in Hawaii (we didn't have satellite TV in those days and who would've watched it if we had?). Star Trek and Laugh In were produced, aired, and discontinued during those years. I've only ever seen them in reruns. There were other events. The Orioles never rose from the depths of the cellar in all the years I lived in Baltimore. Then, during my first year in the Army, secluded in Infantry OCS, they won the World Series. I've been left feeling like I was the albatross around their neck and couldn't win until I was gone.

These were trivial things. There were the Race Riots that left Baltimore an alien place to me when I returned to visit. And the law I had studied had changed. Let the buyer beware was replaced by Let the seller beware, no fault divorce came into existence, among other major changes.

One of the most striking changes was in finding stores open 24/7 and TV broadcasting 24/7. Where had the "Test Pattern" gone?

There were other events but that should be enough to give you an idea of what I mean.

So, you may ask, do I regret missing them? Hell no. I was too busy participating in the greatest adventure of my life. At least, that's how I feel about my service.

How about you