I love to read – and I get that from both of my parents. In first grade, I was the very first child to graduate from the great big class book to a book of my very own. (We had to read the big class book – that only the teacher could hold – cover to cover.) After that, I spent hours sitting on a chair in the kitchen, reading to Mom while she prepared dinner. I’m sure that the adventures of Dick and Jane were not her top choice in reading material – but she patiently listened while I read, helping me to sound out words along the way.
My Dad uses words all the time in his work as a preacher. He reads and studies in preparation for a sermon, then uses words to deliver the message. This was (and is) such a part of his life, that in first grade, when they gave me a test to “place” me, I said that the man doing hard, physical labor (I believe he was chopping wood) was relaxing, and the man who was reading was working. (As an aside, it still irks me that they marked that question wrong. Just because my life experience is different from most people’s experience, does not necessarily mean that I am wrong. OK – I realize that after 43 years, I really should let this go, but I do have serious distrust over the “accuracy” of these kinds of tests.)
My Dad uses words all the time in his work as a preacher. He reads and studies in preparation for a sermon, then uses words to deliver the message. This was (and is) such a part of his life, that in first grade, when they gave me a test to “place” me, I said that the man doing hard, physical labor (I believe he was chopping wood) was relaxing, and the man who was reading was working. (As an aside, it still irks me that they marked that question wrong. Just because my life experience is different from most people’s experience, does not necessarily mean that I am wrong. OK – I realize that after 43 years, I really should let this go, but I do have serious distrust over the “accuracy” of these kinds of tests.)
My Dad gave me love of words in another form – the pun. “Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted.” (~Fred Allen) I LOVE a good pun. Who am I kidding? I love a BAD pun. And the louder I groan over a pun, the quicker I plan to repeat it.
So, in honor of my Dad, for Father’s Day – and just because this is my blog and I can share anything I want to share, here is one of my favorite puns:
“Everyone knows that the Dalai Lama spends much of his time barefoot, which hardens the soles of his feet. And he observes strict dietary laws, which sometimes leaves him weak and with bad breath. You might say he is a super-calloused, fragile mystic, hexed with halitosis.” Sorry, that just htbd (had to be done)!
“The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.” (Proverbs 17:27-28, NIV)
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