Life is a Joke

HS #42  2019.1.10

Life is a Joke

Watching GHW Bush’s funeral last month reminded me of a story he told at the funeral of Ronald Reagan. After Reagan met with Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, Bush asked Reagan, “How was the meeting with Tutu?” Reagan, “So so.”

How funny.  In fact, all the U.S. presidents I have known except the present one have shown a sense of humor. They were able to see humor in situations and – more importantly – in themselves. Lyndon Johnson, satirized often by the Smothers Brothers, wrote them a letter they read on their final show: "It is part of the price of leadership of this great and free nation to be the target of clever satirists. You have given the gift of laughter to our people. May we never grow so somber or self-important that we fail to appreciate the humor in our lives.”

Of course none had the self-deprecating humor of Lincoln who when accused of being two-faced replied, “Sir, if I had another face, do you think I’d wear this one?” When Taft, over 300 pounds, took a recreational vacation in the Philippines, he cabled the Secretary of State that he had just finished a three hour horse ride and was feeling great. Return cable, “How is the horse?”  

No one matched Churchill. Once a young MP came to his estate to apologize for having insulted him that morning in Parliament. Churchill’s servant took the message, and returned a minute later with the reply, “Mr. Churchill says that he is sitting on the john, and he can only take one shit at a time.” 

When I left for college, my father advised no kidding around with college professors.  

I tried, but walked into an argument between my physics professor and a (know-it-all) student as to how thick of a lead wall was needed to stop a high-energy gamma ray. The student was claiming that a million miles of lead would do, but the professor was disagreeing - it would require 4 million miles.

I chimed in, “I agree with the prof - it’s obvious that 4 million miles will stop it, but clearly one million miles would be insufficient.”  The professor, realizing I was poking fun at the absurdity of the disagreement, prophesied, “Pennings, your sense of humor will get you through life.”

As a teacher I get my share of opportunities to have a bit of fun with students.  Sometimes when one is tardy, I’ll instruct the others that after the student arrives, I will ask the class the area of a 2 by 3 rectangle. They are to unanimously respond, “17.”  Then we all watch the reaction.  

Some of the best humor is unintentional. While in graduate school, I dutifully took a break from my studies each day to lift weights at the gym. Although not a body builder, I took it rather seriously. One day when returning from the gym, I met a new friend, a sincere and kind-hearted leader in the Campus Church.  “Hi – where are you coming from?” “The gym.” “Oh, what were you doing there?” “I was lifting weights.” Quickly glancing at my body, “You just start?” 

And I still laugh remembering how my parents, devotees of 8^thStreet Russ’ Restaurant, once told me enthusiastically that they had recently found a restaurant they liked much better. Curious, I asked the name of their newly discovered favorite.  “South Side Russ’.” 

But for finding humor in everything, no one matched my Grandma Pennings. When visiting our home and sewing in the easy chair, she would occasionally call out, "Has anyone seen my needle?" No one ever paid attention. Twenty minutes later, she'd call out again, "I found it - you can all stop looking now." 

Even from her wheel chair, grandma delivered.  Once on a family outing through the great forests of northern Minnesota, we stopped at a trail to a fire lookout station. My younger brother, Daniel, ran ahead as we pushed grandma along the asphalt path. By the time we arrived at the 200-foot-high structure, Daniel had climbed the winding stairs to the top observation deck. Noticing a sign by the entrance, dad hollered, “Dan! Did you see this sign?”  “No.”  “It says, “Dangerous – not permitted on the tower!”  Recognizing the scolding voice, my brother was at a loss for words.” It was grandma who saved the moment.   She cupped her hands, filled her lungs, and called out the logical solution, “You jump down from there right now!”