TIME: 7:45PM.
DATE: SATURDAY, THE 16TH of
JUNE 2045.
"I could hardly believe it, there he was — there I was — seated at the end of that diner table, awaiting what would probably be one of the most surrealistic, humoristic, and most enlightening dinner of my entire life."
— Present Z.
I choose option 4:
You get to spend the weekend with one of the people/characters listed below. Who do you choose and why, and what does your weekend look like - what discussions do you have? (Beware of using images that don't belong to you or are not free-to-use stock images which must be credited with a link)
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Lara Croft (from Tomb Raider)
- Neo (from the Matrix)
- A homeless military veteran
- Adolf Hitler
- Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Viktor E. Frankl
- Napoleon Bonaparte
- Your 90 year old self
As I approached where the old man sat, I couldn't help but feel nervous. Yes, a terribly unnerving anxiety had suddenly come upon me, so much so that I began to dread my choice of inviting the old man for dinner in the first place.
"I wonder what he's gonna look like?" I thought. "Hopefully he isn't too old."
These where the kind of thoughts that ran through my head with every step taking. However, upon reaching the stall where he sat patiently, I was pleased to see a rather healthy looking gentleman and not some old bag of bones with dried up skin as I had previously imagined.
I'd say: for 90, he looked pretty damn good.
"May I?.."
I asked politely yet nervously. He, however, uttered not a single response; all he simply did was gesture to me to sit down.
Presently, he bared a very puzzled looking countenance — one of singular austere expression that made me feel rather uneasy. I was so unease, in fact, I felt I had to say something:
Uhm Sir! Well, I mean me... Is there something wro...
But abruptly, I was cut off by him. With one low and drawn out tone, he muttered:
Dude......
You really fucked up this time...
Have you ever wondered about the possibility of how much easier your life could've been if you had say, a premonition, an intuition, or just a little glimpse of the future?
Have you ever reminisced about the merits? For example, the opportunity to revaluate our present actions in order to avoid future consequences and/or unforseen conflict? The possibility of finally understanding the true concept and paradox of time? 100% knowledge and certainty of our destinies? And even, just for the sheer awesomeness of it?
Well I have. Infact, I wondered about this for over 15 years.
Throughout my years as a young scientist, I spent most of my time constantly researching and expanding on my hypothesis that time travel could be theoretically possible.
Ha! Needless to say, the work nearly killed me.
Anyway, it wasn't till after thousands and thousands of hours spent crunching data — probably somewhere between the year 2043 and 2044 — had I then finally perfected the science!
The result ladies and gentlemen, is nonetheless the medium of that brought about my encounter with my 90 year old self fateful night.
"No way man!!!" I exclaimed. "For real? You actually ended up sleeping with her????"
Well, it was either her or her sister, I can't really remember.
Ah, i've gotten too old, my memories just keep getting worse everyday(ˆ▽ˆ)
My older self replied with a little grin on his face.
"Fucking unbelievable man!" I exclaimed again. "Damn... I really lived it up in the future didn't I?"
"So uh, I know this is stupid but ... What's it like being an orphan?" I asked. "I mean I assume with your current age, Mom must've been long dead by now."
Presently, i felt an overwhelming feeling of sombre come upon me as my expression soon changed.
"Damn... I can't believe we're gonna lose her at some point. I bet it hurt ya huh?"
Hey, where's mom? I mean your mom - the one of this timeline.
Where is she right now?
"Still at retirement home..." I muttered.
Good, it means you still have a lot of time to spend with her. Cherish these times now man because these are the memories that'll carry you on for the rest of your years.
He then paused slightly as if lost in reverie, before continuing:
You asked if it hurts right? Well of course it did you big numbskull! Mom was the most important thing in our lives! But hey, that's just life man: people grow, people die; and as time passes, we begin to realize that there are even more important things — people — that end up becoming part of our lives.
"Oh shit, you mean like wife and kids type of shit?" I asked excitedly.
Exactly!
replied the old me.
"Oh good lord! Thank God! For a second there, I thought we were actually gonna die alone!" I spoke in relief.
"So, my future wife then ... Is it who I think it is?"
Nope.
He replied casually.
"Fuck!" I remarked. "Well, is she atleast cute, a sweetheart, a loving mother and wife?"
At this point, my old self couldn't help but let out a big smile which in turn, made me feel all so warm inside.
Hmm...She's everything you imagine now and more than you'll ever also for.
"Huh?... Well that's good to hear. Is it okay if you tell me her name though? Who knows, maybe I can get things started early enough in the present if you know what I mean ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡"
I implored.
Oh God, I forgot what a sappy little, romance induced prick I was at this age.
said the old man.
"Hey!" I remarked.
Don't hey me, it's the truth! Remind me "Zeraton", just how old are you again?
"Uh... 43."
I scarcely muttered, already feeling the wait of the embarrassment that was to come next.
Ha! I know that age all too well! the old exclaimed! "Oh God, oh my goodness — you've gotta be kidding me! Don't tell me, isn't this the age the whole mid life crisis shit hits ya and you decide to go on a drug induced trip with that huge tits chick from Nevada?
What was her name again? Melissa?...
the world man exclaimed in a very hysterical manner.
"Holy shit!" I remarked nervous. "Did that really happen?"
Oh yeah, you got hella wasted on that trip. Ahh... Those were fun times...
the old man reminisced.
By the way — heads up — if you do end up going on that trip(that is, if my presence here hasn't already altered this timeline), make sure you come prepared, because I'm 95% sure Melissa ends up stabbing you with an old butter knife at the end of the trip, in that old Vegas motel — while you're sleep.
"What the actual fuck Grandpa Z! That's fucking insane!!! Please tell me you're joking?" i beckoned to the old man.
Haha, you got me. None of that shit actually happened! Hehe... I got ya.
the old man laughed hysterically while coughing.
Nah She just ends up giving you AIDs on the trip that's all.
Presently, there was this brief moment of silence before I spoke up again:
"Wait what?.."
Ahhh... as the time passed and our conversation continued, I found myself feeling more and more relaxed and to an extent, even happy.
I'm not entirely sure why though, it's a little hard to explain, but there's just this overwhelming feeling of peace, satisfaction, and contentment you get when you're talking with yourself. I don't know, there's just this feeling of assurance you have mounted at the back of your mind, that no matter what you have to say — good or bad — you know that you can always count on yourself to empathize and relate with you all the way.
And despite our differences in age and experience, i was still able to reciprocate to those same feelings at dinner.
Anyway, once it was 10:30PM, we rounded up dinner which was a little sad, because it was time to bid my 90 year old self a goodbye.
To be honest, I was a little emotional watching that old timer slowly walk out that diner door.
Distinctly, I remember calling out to him once more before he finally left:
"Wait! Hold on!" I yelled.
The old man then slowly turned his head backwards to face me.
"Did we end up doing it?" I asked
Oh, you mean that silly dream of ours? To change the world was it?
He mentioned.
Hmm mmm... oh Zeraton, you know you don't have to build an empire to change the world nor do you have to relieve the lives of the millions of masses out there suffering everyday. We're only human afterall and we can only do so little. Still, I see now that our hearts have always been in the right place.
However now, let me tell you something: if you really wanna change the world, then show it kindness - show it love. Be good to your friends and neighbors, be even better to your loved ones. Be empathetic and understanding of others and give service where you feel is needed of you.
Don't think too much of the future but focus on the present now. Work smarter not harder.
Remember to always obey the laws of life. Never try to act your will upon what has already been set in stone by nature.
And most importantly remember, if it's true, if it's necessary, if it's kind, and if it is for love — then it without a doubt, deserves the whole world from you.
Teach this to strangers, teach this to your loved ones and you'll find that the world will change in more ways than you could've ever imagined it to.
I'll be taking my leave now. Oh, and just one more thing before you go: Take it easy with the sugar buddy, or you're gonna fuck us both up in the future.
THANKS FOR READING AND KEEP EXPLORING!