Aging and experience reveal a deeper understanding

How many times have you thought about people older than you whose path you crossed but may not have fully appreciated their perspective at that time? You may have had great respect for them, but you simply could not grasp their depth until you were in their shoes. God has an answer for that void. It is called the wisdom of aging. I would like to convey one such experience in this journey we call our Armenian identity in the diaspora. My father Carnig was an active and respected member of the community. Other than professional relationships, his friendships were in the Armenian community. He was my mentor, and I followed his trusted footsteps into the Armenian world. As I began to find my way in my late teens and twenties, I became the beneficiary of the wisdom of many of his peers. One such encounter was with an iconic leader of the Providence community named Charles “Chick” Perethian. Everyone knew Chick, and he knew everyone. Chick was gifted with the type of personality that attracted friendships and trust. He had a network in the Armenian community that was unparalleled.