Many years ago...

I used to work at the university library while studying in the graduate school. One late Saturday evening, a (seemingly) very old gentleman came to the checkout counter I was tending. I looked at the book he planned to borrow (The Joy of Sex) and his library card. Oh yes! He was an 89-year old retired former chairman of the History Department.

I said to him half-jokingly, "Sir, I thought you were checking out some history books such as:  The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire."

He replied in earnest, "Young man! Can you tell that I AM reviewing history (我是在回顧歷史)?!"

The moral lesson is:  Never too old to study and learn (new tricks.)

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Few years later...

I went to the university library and gathered about 25 books for a research project. I finally managed to put all those books on the checkout counter. Standing behind the counter was a beautiful Texan blond.

She gave me a weird look, then said in a not-so-friendly voice, "Have you read the library rules on that big sucker on the wall? Do you read or speak English? The rules clearly state that you can only borrow five books at a time for one week."

She then glanced at my (faculty) ID card and before I had a chance to reply, she said to me with a broad and charming smile, "Dear Professor 笨 (at least that's how she pronounced my last name 鄧), I just want to let you know that according to the same rules, YOU can borrow unlimited numbers of books and keep them for one whole year."

I replied happily, "I think I do know those stupid ass rules. But I can only carry these many books back to my office at one time.  Oh! by the way, thank you for your sincere compliments about my look."

The moral lesson is:  Never let people take advantage of your youth (不要讓人小看你年輕...)

Please enjoy the following beautiful classic

Smile A Little Smile For Me – The Flying Machine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR3xcZ-osqE