Laughter is the best medicine. Yes, but, ... what is the disease?

I was lost in thoughts in the grocery store even as my legs propelled me along.  It is fascinating how our bodies can be on some kind of an autopilot mechanism even as our minds are somewhere else.  If only we knew how to always live the "here and the now" philosophy.  But, we don't.  Our minds keep wandering, like in the milkmaid story that we read in elementary school.

So, where was I? ;)

Ah, yes, in the grocery store.

"Sriram" called out a voice.

I have always been impressed with how so many Oregonians pronounce my name so well.  All it takes is for me to tell them once and only once how the string of letters is not all that difficult as one would imagine that to be.  Perhaps because it is Oregon.  Will I have had such positive experiences in Alabama, or in Oklahoma?

So, where was I? ;)

Ah, yes, somebody calling out my name.

I turned towards that direction.

The body-builder, "W," was walking towards the back end of the store.

"How are you?" I asked her.

She didn't even bother to reply.

"I have a question for you" she began.

I knew it was something humorous that she was going to tell me.  Perhaps she had been waiting for my face to appear in the store. She told me something like that once before--about how she had been making sure that she didn't forget a joke that her stand-up-comedian husband had told her and that she couldn't wait to tell me that.  I suppose a reputation that I love puns and awfully silly jokes is a healthier reputation than anything else that I can hope for.  I imagine a service after my death where people take turns delivering the silliest of punchlines.

So, where was I? ;)

Ah, yes, W's setup for the funny line.

"What is the one food that has caused the greatest grief and misery to humans?" she asked with a huge grin.

It had to be funny.  It was obvious from her face.  Not like mine--students tell me that they have a tough time figuring out whether I am being serious or funny.  No funny face mine is!

"The one food?"

"Yes."

"I don't know ... potato?"

She seemed all the more tickled at my boring response.

"Wedding cake" she said.

I burst out laughing.
Right there in the middle of the store.
Loudly, as she walked away.

Yes, yes ... from that source ;)