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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Much Ado about Nothing (not about the play) (07/28/11)
My husband told me a joke, I did not laugh.

My husband is always telling jokes I miss the humor in. So instead of laughing, I sit considering, philosophizing and writing about it – well that is what writers do!

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Likewise, if I hear a joke and do not laugh, not even giggle, nor grin, is it still a joke? At least in my world? It may be a joke in someone else’s world, but if it elicits only groans and some kind of inner barf reaction in my funny bone, is it still a joke in my world?

As I sit considering these questions carefully, I think that someone might consider it a joke that I am even contemplating the value of what I consider a non-joke. I think I might agree. But, nonetheless, my mind has grasped this as a worthy dilemma and is not ready to send it to the grave of passing thoughts just yet. So, that fact alone, I suppose, would give the joke value - but not as intended.

For the joke did not stimulate the humor core of me, but instead tickled the speculative membrane of my reasoning – you know the shallow area. And tickled was a bad verb choice wasn’t it – as tickled implies some kind of giggle sensation.

It’s funny really, that a non-joke would evoke such seriously silly thoughts from me and that’s a paradox of paramount importance to some region of my brain right now – an area that actually might be too close to the gutter area for comfort! But I’ll not discuss the anatomy of my mind and the alleyways within, for that could be a whole other article that could easily turn into a big joke of its own!

I try and pretend not to notice how easily my mind can slip from inspiration to idiocy as I continue to analyze the joke (or lack thereof). I have laughed at my husband’s jokes in the past, when I didn’t think them funny. Why? And why not now? Have I suddenly developed a joke conscience? Am I suddenly afraid that laughing at a non-joke is really a lie God will punish me for?

I am pondering this when hubby walks in and asks what I am writing. No joke. I am busted. Unless I can throw him off. So I clear my throat and say ever so sweetly “Oh just journaling some of my inner fussing – really about junk as pointless as the conversation of a room full of Professors discussing evolution!”

Maybe junk and pointless wasn’t my best choice of words, I think as he bends over my shoulder, looks closer and then points to husband’s jokes boldly staring at us from the computer screen. Why didn’t I just say it was much ado about nothing, I’m sure he would have run from a Shakespearean explanation - he hates Shakespeare, something about nightmares and English literature - I can’t relate - I love English literature but point is, I didn’t use it to my advantage here - NO sir - instead I had to rouse his curiosity at me writing pointless junk! Joke’s on me.

My comic tragedy cometh forth, I think, as I silently and with dread print out the previous paragraphs and hand it to him. As he stands attentively reading, I think I would rather be hearing one of his jokes. Why not - I am inwardly groaning now anyway!

I am ready to hit delete and repent to him and God for being such a bad-joke wife when he hands it back to me with deadpan expression and voice saying, “Not some of your better writing, that’s for sure.”

“Hey”, I call after him as he’s leaving the room, “can I help it if YOU have no sense of humor!”

But you do don’t you God, You love putting opposites together - and I hear you laughing God, even if it is in that still small voice of yours!
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This article has been read 947 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Noel Mitaxa 
08/04/11
I managed to rise above the testosterone that fuels my brain cells and saw the other side of male humour. When people ask my wife how I can remember all those jokes, she replies: "The bigger question is WHY does he remember all those jokes?"
But I enjoyed this light-fingered touch on self-analysis, with a wry devotional angle to wrap it up. I hope it rates well.
Amica Joy
08/05/11
I liked your article a lot. I'm lucky, my husband, doesn't make any 'rehearsed' jokes at all :-) (only spontaneous humour in our home, thankfully). But I know lots of couples who struggle with very opposite 'blends' of humour. We are mysterious human beings and that's always worth some contemplation, even if it seems futile. Thanks for posting this. I enjoyed it.
darlene hight
08/11/11
tee hee..funny pondering..."not your best work" love that little interaction.
Edmond Ng
08/11/11
You are probably right about God putting opposites together. An interesting read with a good sense of humor.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
08/20/11
This was a fun read that I'm sure many couples can relate to. Congratulations on ranking 8 in level 3!