I'll never forget Stoner. He was the creepy old guy in the neighborhood that had a striking resemblance to Herbert from Family Guy. He was, among other things, a junk collector. I worked for stoner over the summer now and then, helping him pick up the stuff that didn't sell at auctions, which had subsequently become the garbage that no one wanted. No one else but Stoner. He was the laughing stock of our small town, everyone hated him and made jokes about his appearance, his hand gestures and most of all, his stockpile of "treasure". He had this house on the back of his property that was stacked to the ceiling with dirty magazines, broken washing machines and archaic looking lawmovers. Stoner did odd things, like threaten to blow up the local bridge if the township didn't widen it. He starved his livestock and i do believe slept with his pipe in his mouth. But Stoner and I got along, I would work for him after school, and he would pay me by letting me pick out two items from a predestined stack. It was genius really, I help him bring in his new found loot, and he gave me the crap he didn't want anymore. I liked the old guy, i really did. Talking to him was like piecing together a giant puzzle. I was fascinated with his life story, or atleast the little bit he would tell me. It's strange, but even at 11 years old i knew admitting i was fond of the geezer would make me somehow uncool with the other neighbor boys. The cool thing too do was to make fun of him, throw eggs at him, and i played right along. I never admitted i liked him, i felt like i would have to explain myself and answer to the "cool crowd" why i thought he was fun to work for. Today i realized that everyone has a "Stoner" in their life. For some it's their political stance, for others it's their religious beliefs. But whatever the case may be, we feel this need to apologize to the "cool" or "politically correct" crowd for how we feel, or what we know is right. Over the weekend i was talking to another Marine about our society and fast were moving in the wrong direction. He does not claim to be a christian and i found myself having to do the old, "I mean, i'm not a Bible thumper but...." Or, "I don't mean to sound close minded, however..." I would like too just be friends with "stoner". To be seen sitting on his porch having a budwiser with him, and not worry about what others are thinking/saying. Never apologizing for believing in him, or sharing faith in him with others. Never again feel the need too correct what i say before i say it; in order to fit in with new "neighborhood gang" that seems to patrol every street corner and every media outlet in our society today. Lets just be ourselves, have a pipe with the "stoner" in your life today, i think you'll enjoy it. | 
