'Matter of Laugh or Death,' a humor column

By Bill Dunn

Interesting observations on this thing we call life

(appearing each week in the Republican-American newspaper, Waterbury, CT)

WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?

Over the past few months I’ve been collecting clever sayings that I receive in emails or see on the Internet. I file these items under the heading: “I wish I had thought of that.”

I’d like to share a few of these ideas with you, and I want to make it clear that I am not the author of these sayings. A few years ago I was alerted to the fact that someone in a different state had copied a major portion of one of my humor columns from the Internet and incorporated it, word for word, into his own published article. When I contacted this person and reminded him that plagiarism is a rather ugly concept (especially for a clergyman), he sheepishly replied, “Oh, I didn’t see a name on it, so I thought it was anonymous.”

Well, these sayings also are anonymous, but there is one person in the world I know for sure DID NOT write them: me. However, the parenthetical smart-aleck comments are all mine.

  • “There is a fine line between ‘hobby’ and ‘mental illness.’” (I’m thinking: fishing, golf, motorcycles, and gardening.)
     
  • “People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.” (Especially when your religious views consider plagiarism to be a rather ugly concept.)
     
  • “You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she’s pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.” (Been there, done that, and over 20 years later my face still turns red at the mere thought of what I said to a certain very unpregnant lady.)
     
  • “There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.” (I can think of a number of middle-aged people who need to grasp this idea.)
     
  • “The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers.” (It is not surprising that there is at least one accident tying up rush hour traffic on I-84 every single day. What is surprising, the way people drive like maniacs, is that there are not hundreds of accidents on I-84 every single day.)

The following thoughts are courtesy of an anonymous email titled, “Men Are Just Happier People.” Although I’m a man, I still wish I had thought of these reasons why men have it much easier than women.

  • Wedding plans take care of themselves.
     
  • You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
     
  • You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
     
  • Car mechanics tell you the truth.
     
  • The world is your urinal.
     
  • You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
     
  • People never stare at your chest when you’re talking to them.
     
  • A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
     
  • You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
     
  • If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
     
  • Your underwear is $6.95 for a three-pack.
     
  • Wrinkles add character.
     
  • You can play with toys all your life.
     
  • You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
     
  • You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24th in 25 minutes.

If you know who authored these sayings, let me know. I’d like to give credit where credit is due.

©2007

 
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