I'm supposed to be writing something funny. My friend who got me into blogging said so. But isn't it understood that girls usually aren't known as funny when they try? So, I ask all of you who read this blog (especially those that do but never comment-curses!) what do you find to be the absolute funniest things in your day. I don't mean when someone tells you a joke, but what do you find funny by the way you look at it? Sometimes it's just plain natural to laugh at everything in a day, but other times I literatlly have to think, "Ok, my goal is to make myself laugh every class period...if I can do that, I just might have a good day." How sad is that?
What do I find funny? (I offer this instead of trying to be so)
Random conincidence: I told my friend I wanted to learn about what's going on in the world.As always, I get what I ask for. Last night at Piggly Wiggly I made the all-time, cheesy, it's-near-closing time response to a stranger, "Is it me, or does all the produce just look bad today?" She responds, "Yes, it's because America has things shipped to us out of season...really forcing fruit out of season-a way different than God planned...you shouldn't have bananas and tomatoes in the fall-it should be in the summer. Oranges...now you have oranges in the winter." She slipped in there that she was from the Middle East but has been an American citizen for forty years. She had me there. She threw all kinds of figures about the war at me and noted how Iraqis and Americans both sterotype each other's countries.
I listen intently because I'm concerned about my fruit intake as well as political knowledge I may gain without reading a paper or watching the news. I knew why I was listening to her, but I kept asking myself, "Why does she want to tell me these things?" It boiled down to Americans not being aware of what's going on. My conscience burning, I found myself admitting to her that fall into that category. But I listened to her preach, so I think I'm forgiven (not to mention I found out today that imports from China have the most recalls-including re-used chopsticks). How's that for being aware?
So, I guess I am amused the most when I make an odd goal one day and see it happen in a strange way (such as with the lady at the Pig). It never fails. I can say I hope I learn more about education in inner city and I'll find a co-worker at lunch saying we've got a new project there or it will be the next thing on the list for service at community group. I may even be reading and those words be on the page of a book and then I hear them on TV; coincidence? I never know, and that's what's funny to me sometimes.
One more and I'm through. My roommate from college says I'm ridiculous sometimes but I'm pretty sure she means I'm funny (more of the random Chuck Norris jokes funny that are just odd). I once tried to explain to a Brazilian what trail mix was. Odd thing was, I mainly used hand motions and went into the origin of the idea behind trail mix (girl scout style) before getting down to the nuts and fruit of it. (I'm sure I'm doing the same with asking fellow bloggers what makes them laugh and explaining a mini life history of my own humor). She tried to affirm me after making fun of me by saying I obviously just want to communicate anything I can to people. To me it was normal: to her, unnecessary. But doesn't that make life more interesting? Probably not-I do realize it just makes it more awkward for some. But if we can't laugh at awkward, what can we laugh at?
I made a survey in attempts to be less serious. Fellow bloggers, your responses will suffice. Natalie, this post was for you. I'm sorry it wasn't shorter. I need help with that.
Moments in the Blur
9 years ago
4 comments:
#1. I miss the Pig.
#2. I miss you and can't wait to see you tomorrow
#3. I laugh when I hear my Minnesotan friends say things like "Wanna come with" (instead of "wanna come with ME") and " Would you borrow me that dress" (instead of "Would you LEND me that dress")
#4.I laughed alot the other day when my neighbor - this old guy named Earle - came over just to tell us we needed to sweep the grass clippings out of the street in front of our house (!)
hmm...i'm sure there are more things. i'll have to think of them
haaaaa! I miss you because
1. You respond to my humor
2. You are the only one I know that could live in Minnesota and laugh instead of cry.
3. I hate also when people say "come with"...I think it happens here too.
4. I'm glad its a girls weekend...don't think I'm invited to the Bachelorette party...not sure. BUT, surely I will see you Friday?
I am amazed that there are even still Piggly Wiggly's around- that is the only time and place I was ever spanked by my parents. I ran away to the candy aisle and Ron was not pleased....
This is my first time visiting your blog- I will be tuning in to see what is going on in your life. Cheryl will be tuning in to make sure your grammar is correct. haha. Oh you English teachers....
Hello from Robert at Gino's East:
Your second question to the readers is "What do you find funny by the way you look at it?"
- The things I find humorous typically revolve around people and words that are said between them. Not jokes necessarily, but sometimes. It could be a serious conversation, like when a guy tells a gal who has a boyfriend and that he works with that he "is crazy about her". As you state, communications often make people feel awkward. To me awkward=funny. Your question "If we can't laugh at awkward, what can we laugh it?" is perfect. One of the guys in my group of friends recently was the culprit of telling the lady above his feelings. It was awkward, but that is what made it funny. Its what made his (and her) life more interesting. In fact, my friends and I have this saying that we use when we encounter a situation in which we do not know whether we should take action (like telling a woman how you feel). It's "it will make it all the more interesting."
Also, my friends like to "joke" on each other. We know each other so thoroughly that anything that one of us does that is out of the ordinary gets made fun of. On the surface that sounds ridiculous because we are huge proponents of being different and doing things differently than others. We don't want to be like anyone else. Yet we find humor in the strange things we do. We are 'amused' by the idiosyncrasies of other human beings. Example: When I met you and your friends. I learned that you are often perceived as being too 'deep' for the common person to understand. Natalie often has to translate for the lay person. Therefore, when you said something that did not make sense to me, I turned to Natalie and asked her to clear things up. Now this did not deserve a guffaw, but we chuckled at human differences between us.
Your line "I listen intently because I'm concerned about my fruit intake as well as political knowledge..." is funny. It's funny because it is out of the ordinary for one to be concerned for two such different items at the same time.
I do not find strange coincidences "amusing", but rather intriguing and inspiring. Maybe being intriguing and inspiring makes it "amusing". I don't know.
Finally, you say "doesn't communicating make life more interesting?" Of course it does! We are here on earth to interact with on another. Choosing to say something to someone may benefit you, it may cause you harm, but it will definitely "make it all the more interesting."
- Peace -
Robert
Post a Comment