V i r g i l ’ s V i e w s

Part III

I went to see a doctor recently and told him “I have a pain in this leg.”  He looked at me for a few seconds and said  “Virgil, you have to realize that you are getting a little bit old.”  ” But doctor,” I replied “the other leg is the same age, and it doesn’t bother me at all.”

Still not feeling well I went to another physician who apparently was quite perceptive.  After listening to the dreary recital of my ailments, he said “You are going to have to realize that I can’t make you  young again.”  “But, doctor,” I replied “I don’t want to be young again.  I just want to keep on getting older.”

Another doctor wanted to be supportive.   After listening to my tale of woe, he tried to encourage me by saying “I’m sure that medicine has made so much progress in the last fifty years.”  I retorted ” If that is so, how come I felt so much better fifty years ago?”

I began to realize that it is possible to dwell too much on my aches and pains, and it is good therapy to think about the problems of others once in while.  I then decided to visit  senior citizens’ centers and to talk with others or at least to exchange symptoms with them.

One afternoon I walked into a center and saw a man standing and staring into space with a morose and downcast expression on his face.  Wanting to cheer him up a bit, I approached and said “Here is a card table and a deck of cards.  How about a game of gin rummy?”  He replied “No, I did it once and didn’t like it.”  Although rebuffed, I tried again.  “On the wall is a dart board and some darts.  I can’t hit the broad side of a barn, but how about a game?”  “No,” he said “I did it once and didn’t like it.”  I had only one strike left so I said “There is a pool table in the next room  Do you want to play a game of eightball?”  In a softer tone he replied, “No, but my son is coming soon, and he will be glad to play a game with you.”  After staring at him for a couple of seconds, I remarked “Your only son, I presume.”