Đọc chuyện này, gẫm lại cuộc đời của mình, sao mà thấy nó y chang: khi còn trẻ, chỉ biết ăn/chơi/học, đến khi lập gia đình, phải làm thân trâu/ngựa cày bừa, kéo xe muốn hộc gạch luôn, bây giờ đã "nghỉ hiu" thì lại "giúp vui" bạn bè (qua các câu chuyện tiếu lâm) còn ở nhà thì nhăn mặt/làm trò khỉ/chơi trò cút bắt với thằng cháu ngoại. Không biết đến ngày nào, mắt mờ, chân mõi, tai điếc, đầu óc lú lẩn, ra ngồi trước cửa hóng gió/đuổi ruồi, "sủa" ông đi qua, bà đi lại?
Cũng rồi một kiếp nhân sinh! Nghé Ngọ
The Meaning of a Man’s Life
On the first day God created the cow. God said, "You must go to the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves, and give milk to support the farmer I will give you a life span of sixty years."
The cow said, "That's kind of a tough life... you want me to live for sixty years. Let me have twenty years and I'll give back the other forty." And God agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey. God said, "Entertain people, do monkey tricks, make them laugh. I'll give you a twenty year life span." Monkey said, "How boring, monkey tricks for twenty years? I don't think so. Give me ten years and I'll give back the other ten." So God agreed.
On the third day God created the dog. God said, "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. I will give you a life span of twenty years."
The dog said, "That's too long to be barking. I gave you back ten, so that's what I'll do too, okay?" And God agreed (sigh).
On the fourth day God created man. God said, "Eat, sleep, play, have sex, enjoy. Do nothing, just enjoy, enjoy. I'll give you twenty years."
Man said, "What? Only twenty years? No way, man. Tell you what, I'll take my twenty, and the forty cow gave back, the ten monkey gave back, and the ten dog gave back. That makes eighty, okay?"
"Okay," said God. "You've got a deal."
So, that is why for the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play, have sex, enjoy, and do nothing. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family; for the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain our grandchildren; and for the last ten years we sit in front of the house and bark at everybody.
Live Well, Love Much, Laugh Often.
- Anonymous