wikipedia defines humor in part as a term derived from the humoral medicine of the ancient Greeks, which taught that the balance of fluids in the human body, known as humours (Latin: humor, "body fluid"), controlled human health and emotion.
So, my countrymen defined humor as laughing until you pee your pants, I think is what they are saying? The irony is, I am typically thought of as funny, and yet, this is one prompt, where I cannot for the life of me, come up with a post!
As I chatted tonight with many, it dawned on me, I am not funny on demand I am situationally funny.
I don't tell jokes. I respond to the moment. Oh, occasionally a humorous story, or two, and then the punch line is almost always at my expense. Because, disarming people, putting them at ease, is, well, what I do...
Ever made 12 U.S. Marshals twitch and charge you, with a laugh? I have.
Many of you know, I work in special events. Last fall, 6 of the 9 justices of the Supreme Court were at an event for Harvard University. As one of the leads on the event, I was tasked with managing the justices and getting them from the green room to onstage on time. Now, the Justices for most high profile events travel with Marshalls, as it is the U.S. Marshals Service, that is responsible for their security.
In the green room, we were to put their lavalier mics on. Since our assistant audio guy was new, it was decided he would be in the room, but, I would mic up the principals. He would handle the Dean, and President of the University and I would
mic the Justices. I am equally at ease on a loading dock with the janitor or with Justices of SCOTUS. So, time comes and I am calling the Justices over, one by one in to a little side room, and mic'ing them up.
Now in the room is me, 6 of the SCOTUS, two of their wives, a few Harvard folks, and their wives. Plus 12 members of the Marshal service... I do 4 of the Justices and then I call over Chief Justice Roberts. My usual, *Hi, I'm Greg, and I'm gonna put your mic on, but he's not really listening or looking at me. I have only two real questions does he want the mic cable run down inside his shirt and where does he want the mic pack? But he';s not listening, so... in my usual method, I crack a joke. it gets their attention and the I can get what I need... So I lean in to Chief Justice, and say in his ear, now, I'm going to put my hands down your pants, so, turn your head and cough ok? He whips his head around and says WHAT? really loudly... As soon as he sees my face, with my wry grin, he laughs...
Unfortunately for me, 12 Marshalls heard him say very loudly WHAT? and they spring into action. 6 go for their principal and the others converge on me and a laughing justice. It went form boring to tense and back to boring in maybe 1, maybe even 2 seconds... but still, funny, to me!
And more painfully for those around me, when I am in person, my humor has been known to be, Dry
Like London Gin dry. Desert Dry even...... maybe Sahara Desert Dry
More of my Musings
