The absolute best thing happened to me yesterday.
I had to go up north for a few meetings that took a wee bit longer than I had anticipated. I decided to stop in a restaurant on the way home for lunch. Because it was just me, they sat me in an area that only had tabletops for two people.
I dug into my purse, got my notebook and pen out and I started writing down things from the meetings that I wanted to capture.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw an elderly couple get up from their seats to leave. Both were as old as the hills. The husband helped his wife put on her red coat. They took tiny careful steps, the woman bent over in the way that time tends to destroy youth’s posture. Both held hands as they maneuvered around the tables. They appeared so very fragile.
As they passed my table, the woman who was using a cane put her free hand on my upper arm.
I figured that she might need a little extra support, so I didn’t flinch or remove my arm, instead I looked at her and smiled. Sure, go ahead and lean on me is what I thought, take my arm if you need it.
She bent toward me. “Do you want to hear a joke?” she asked.
I was a little surprised, but I’m always up for a joke. “Sure, I’d love to hear one.” I replied.
She put her head close to mine. “How do you tell one end of a worm from the other?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “How do you tell one end of a worm from the other?”
She looked into my eyes. “You put it in a bowl of flour and wait for it to fart.”
It’s actually a good thing I didn’t have any food in my mouth, because the word “guffaw” was invented for just this kind of situation.
I guffawed.
The woman backed up and continued shuffling out the restaurant, holding hands reveling in the knowledge I’d be laughing well after she and her husband had left the restaurant.
***
Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at [email protected]
Also, join me on Facebook to find out more about the flock (children and chickens) and see some pretty funny chicken jokes, photos of tiny houses, and even a recipe or two.
Like what you read here? Consider subscribing to this blog so that you’ll never miss a post. And feel free to share with those who may need a little chicken love.
