Too Much Spaghetti And Brass

Perhaps one has to have been in the army, to feel the fear a young private feels, when he encounters his first Brigadier General. After an afternoon of shopping at the post exchange, I walked out of the PX with packages under both arms. My saluting arm was temporarily deactivated. Yep, right in front of me was a real General, gold embroidery all over his hat(called spaghetti in the service), and shiny brass decorations all over his uniform. Stunned, the first and last words I said were, "OH, excuse me sir, I thought you scared me." I'll let the readers imagine what he was thinking, and the glance he gave me.