Demetrios Trifiatis | + Follow Poet |
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Getting Older: a Reason For Celebration

" How old are you, professor?"* 

I turned around trying to locate the student who had
asked this unexpected question.

It was not hard to locate her. There she was smiling,
her hand up in the air.

" I am forty-two," I replied. " Why? "
 
" Would you like to be my age? '' She continued.

" How old are you, my dearest? " I inquired.

" Nineteen!" She answered. 

I looked at her straight in the eyes and emphatically declared:

"Of course not! "

" Why not, sir?" Shouted, almost all the students in the auditorium, as 
they were taken by surprise.

Since I had got their attention, I thought it a good opportunity
To talk to them about age, although I had nothing prepared.

I turned to the student who had asked me the question in
The first place, and asked her again:

" How old did you say you are? "
" Nineteen. " 
'' Would you like to die today? "
 She looked at me rather puzzled by my question but she firmly replied:
 " No!"
" What about tomorrow?"
" No!"
" In a week, perhaps? "
" No!"
" In a month, a year, in five years?"
" Certainly not! "
" What about ten or twenty years from now?"
" Absolutely, not! "
" You see, my dear student," I said: " You are dreaming of becoming
my age."
" It seems so!" She timidly replied.

" I wish you to reach my age and to live to be one hundred years old,
but are you sure you are going to live to be forty-two?"

" Honestly, I do not know." She whispered.

"Let us say that you will reach the age of forty-two.
Could you tell me if you would be: Healthy, have two legs, two arms, 
two eyes? Have a carrier, and a family of your own as I have? " I asked.

" No, sir, I cannot say that I would."  

I paused for a while, observed my students who had become
Very interested in the dialogue and added:
   
" You see, my dearest student, you are a potentiality but I am
a reality, why reality would ever wish to become potentiality again?"

Then, I went on to mention that in the Greek language the word "old" (Geros), means the "privileged one" because an old person is considered to be favored by fate. Therefore, getting older should be a reason to celebrate, to rejoice, to be grateful and happy, and not to be gloomy, miserable, and unhappy.
Remember, my dearest students, getting older is the only way for us to stay alive.   

Having said that, in a teasing mood, I asked:

" Would you like to be my age? "
 
" Yes, sir, we would. " Was their reply and they burst out into laughter!









© Demetrios Trifiatis
      21 June 2021 

* This is a true story. It took place in Montreal, Canada, where I was teaching
 Philosophy in a College, some thirty years ago.

** This is my 3000th poem. I would like to thank PoetrySoup and all the good friends and fellow poets who have supported me since 2012. God bless you!

Copyright © Demetrios Trifiatis | Year Posted 2021

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L Milton Hankins Date: 6/21/2021 8:39:00 AM A marvelous piece of writing, Demetrios. I eagerly read every word...and tried to absorb it into my philosophy of life. Thank you. Login to Reply Demetrios Trifiatis Date: 6/21/2021 8:55:00 AM What a wonderful surprise, dear L Milton. Thank you for your gracious visit and comment . Blessings.

Heidi Sands Date: 6/21/2021 7:47:00 AM Interesting story Demetrios. I enjoyed this. Congratulations for all your successful endeavors. Beautiful flower, bursting with life. :) Login to Reply Demetrios Trifiatis Date: 6/21/2021 8:02:00 AM I am pleased, you liked it, my dearest friend, Heidi. Thank you for your kind visit and comment. Hugs xxx

Vijay Pandit Date: 6/21/2021 5:07:00 AM Much depth to your story my friend. Message well received. BIG congrats on your poetic achievements, Demetrios. Vibrant flower! Login to Reply Demetrios Trifiatis Date: 6/21/2021 6:38:00 AM I appreciate your continuous support, my dear friend, Vijay! God bless you. Have a lovely week.

Sotto Poet Date: 6/21/2021 4:44:00 AM Wonderfully penned dialogue, dear friend Demetrios. I like how you showed her the difference between reality and potentiality; to be honest, I'd never thought of it that way. I also loved this: in the Greek language, the word "old" (Geros) means the "privileged one." and this means a lot. Blessings and long and healthy life Login to Reply Demetrios Trifiatis Date: 6/21/2021 5:03:00 AM Thank you for taking the time to visit and comment in such a kind way, my friend, Lasaad. May you have a wonderful week. Blessings.

Rama Balasubramanian Date: 6/21/2021 4:09:00 AM Many old want to be young again. You perfectly portrayed the advantage of old age. Now I feel nice that I am 50. You are right. Thanks. Have a wonderful day ahead friend Login to Reply Demetrios Trifiatis Date: 6/21/2021 4:30:00 AM Fifty? You are a mere... child, my dearest, Rama! Enjoy it! Thank you for your lovely visit and comment. Have a wonderful week. Blessings.

Tom Cunningham Date: 6/21/2021 12:15:00 AM An enjoyable story Demetrios, I like how you showed her the diffence between reality and potentiality, to be honest I'd never thought of it that way. Did she for a moment think she'd catch you out, a wise man such as yourself lol. Congratulations on your 3000th poem, a fantastic achievement. Have a great week. Tom Login to Reply Demetrios Trifiatis Date: 6/21/2021 12:59:00 AM I am glad you enjoyed the story, my dearest friend, Tom. You are one of the persons that I would like to thank for your support and wonderful comments. They say that "A teacher affects eternity." If so, those students of mine are now in their early fifties and they understand better what I said then. Thank you again. God bless you. Have a marvelous week.