I think something my husband misses about being retired is the jokes he heard from fellow workers. When he went to a job, he always had a fresh gag or two when we attended a social gathering. Now that is missing. Jokes make life more fun.
My family never were wisecrackers, but they did have a sense of humor. While I was growing up, Dad and Mom listened to the radio and laughed at Bob Hope, Red Skelton and the comedians on the WLS National Barn Dance.
After Ken enlisted in the U.S. Navy, the first time I went to Chicago with Hazel and Rolland to visit him at Great Lakes Naval Station, I learned that his dad was a joke teller. We drove by a cemetery and Rolland said, “There’s a dead place, but everyone’s dying to go there.” I was on edge because I was with my boyfriend’s folks and I giggled, which was expected,
I’ve heard it’s easy to tell if you’re old or not when you fall down. Of course, the first thing you do is look around to see if anyone saw you. If people are laughing, you’re not old–if people rush to your side asking, “Are you all right?” you’re old.
We learn to laugh at ourselves. We even tell on ourselves to give our friends a good chuckle.
I think some of the old TV shows were funnier than the present ones. I’ll take a rerun of “Carol Burnett,” “All in the Family,” or “Sanford & Son” over what are billed as comedies today.
The longest lasting comedy show is “Saturday Night Live.” Beginning in 1975. the late-night live sketch comedy variety show often parodies contemporary American culture. It has received a vast number of awards during its five decades on air.
Are you a joke teller?