Today is not my day

I've been to so many old people's summit and if it weren't for the books i so carefully tucked in my already full bag pack, five minutes before jumping into a bus, i certainly might be dead. I am so not into unplanned trips although a part of me thinks the impromptu makes a good brain exercise. That is why if the situation calls for another long trip to the unknown, and i be informed a few hours before the estimated time of departure...i could still go. I mean, why refuse an adventure?

The summit was just the usual; old people dominating, talking, speaking their hearts out. I just let them be and pretend to watch them from a distance when truth is, i'm drifting farther and farther away into some other world. Then, something caught my attention (or inattention). The league was reviewing Covenant X for a certain forest area and two old people were discussing whether to add the word "area" next to watershed or just stick with the original (just watershed).

First, let us describe the parties involved. Old People No. 1 loves agriculture and i've seen him in other fora before. He never seem to recognize me (well who else does) which is fine as I planned to be anonymous all my life (I hate limelights and shining moments). He used to have this very long hair and i thought he planned to make it reach and mop the floor or something. But he cut it short and he actually looked a little decent. I don't like him. A senior once told me that he's hardworking and a good man. But i don't know. I just think he's so full of himself you can hardly add an idea to his already awesome knowledge.

Old people No.2 is not really old but his sense of being young is just a little off. I don't like his fashion sense...why on earth would you a wear a grey cargo pants with a shiny, pointy, black shoes? To add more disaster to the entire ensemble, he wore this i'm-so-cool-i-rock shirt characteristic of the street E-M-Os downtown and carried around some black leather bag. His minion, (like me, an exception to the old people category) with a a purple-and-black velvety bag wearing yellow green chucks followed him around. I had a feeling Old people No. 2 was some artist wannabe with exuding confidence he misplaced in his horrible outfit. And oh...he is a forester with a PhD from the country's premier university (somewhere north campus).

So the unrest was about the term watershed. Old people No. 2 began the war by commenting that the right term to use would be "watershed area" and not just "watershed". Old People No. 1 argued that, adding "area" to "watershed" (watershed area) is awfully redundant; "watershed" after all refers to "an area...." Old People No. 2 laughed the kind of laugh you would only give when you can almost lay down your life just to prove you're sure. He said that the term "watershed" only refers to a body of water. So there goes his PhD diploma flying up, up and away.

The chemicals in my brain mixed and for some reason I don't know why i felt the utmost desire to correct Old People No. 2. Partially, his minion has to do with it. When I was younger, I tend to "idolize" my teachers...i kind of view them as "masters" (the kung-fu-and-jacki- chan kind). I actually had a feeling that my choice for my bachelor's degree stemmed from a high school teacher's influence. I guess, I'd love my teachers to be always responsible about what they teach. I see how the minion looks up to Old people No. 2. I see how he proudly beams when he said "Doktor yan!" while i tried to smile this that's-amazing-grin...while i tried to hide the stupid oh-really-look on my face. If Old People No.2 doesn't get things right then he teaches his students wrong...

So i raised my right hand and the moderator (who kind of hates the X i am representing) almost took forever to recognize me. and I did a little blah blah blah about the watershed and kind of implied that i support Old People No. 1's case. But talking about persistence...Old People No. 2 insisted on his own definition about the watershed and told us to our face that his definition is what they used in forestry. He appealed to the league and went on recruiting Very Old People No. 3 to his cause. And soon enough, everyone agrees with the Ph.D. guy. No wonder we don't have forests anymore; saving watersheds meant another thing for some guys.

Somebody blurted out how pointless the argument is. And I kind of agreed with him. To use "watershed" or "watershed area" in the covenant is certainly not a life and death situation. But to infuse a wrong concept to the confused populace is a crime. At least I've done my part. At least, when i bump into my mentors one of these days, I can say "Thank you, profs...I am well taught." If one of my notorious teachers witnessed the whole show, batuon gyud niya si Mr. PhD. But if i never tried my best to correct the wrong, Prof Gamby would kill me. Most definitely.

(My english teachers would hang me if they read this post).

Anyway, today is not my day. But I'm glad it's someone else's.