Humor in Sickness

This week, it’s been hard to walk. I’m still sick. But I’m getting better. My doctor adjusted my meds, I’m going to a chiropractor tomorrow and on the 23rd I’m meeting with a cardiologist.

Getting up from a horizontal position to a vertical position takes at least a minute. And I take baby steps when I walk because I ache in different places. This can be a miserable existence but thankfully, I can laugh at myself.

You know the caricature of the old man in the Carol Burnett Show who shuffles and moves in slow motion? That’s me!

The pain wakes me up when I sleep. My wife was switching channels one night and I saw the name: John Malkovich. And I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be so silly and such a waste of my time if I made a poem about John Malkovich?

Wouldn’t you know it? The more I didn’t want to, the more I couldn’t help it and I DID conjure a poem in my head about that actor with the weird name. Here it is:

POOR JOHN MALKOVICH
A wicked witch gave John Malkovich a rotten sandwich.
He twitched and he twitched
Then he fell in a ditch.
Poor John Malkovich.

I’ve been feeling better and I think it’s because of your prayers. Many of you have written that you’ve praying. I read all your letters but was too groggy to respond (you know who you are —  thank you!).

I think I am officially old. All the jokes about old people are suddenly very personal (but funny still). But who am I to complain? This is part of life. And maybe this is why God made people grow old: when you get older, your options are fewer… there are fewer mountains to climb. (I guess I have to give up my dream to dunk that basketball). You get to focus on the things that are most important — sharing instead of competing, loving your friends and (especially) family, and preparing to join the grand party in heaven. I’m really looking forward to it.

TGIF people! See you next week and the week after and several more weeks after.

Raoul

“For I am sure of this very thing: that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.“
— Philippians 1:6

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Mel of Washington D.C.

Thanks to  Ray of Burbank, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Peter Paul of South Pasadena, CA

The post There Was a Man Named Odd appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Hope After the Battle

The U.S. mid-term elections are finally over. As with recent past elections, this one lived up to the hype of being “the most important” one. Like a championship sport, every election seems to have it’s own unpredictable finish. There was a bloodbath of the seemingly unbeatable party champions. What’s comedic is the way the media from both sides claim victory.

It was disheartening to listen to the childish party leaders taunt their enemies just hours after the election — the wedding trial had just ended and now the two hurting bratty spouses are facing off again. No honeymoon to cool off… just a new marriage and a soon-to-be divorce.

Many of the winners won by the narrowest of margins. It could have gone either way. What does that tell you? America is indeed a divided country. Neither side can blame a lackluster turnout (like they did the last election) because each side showed up at the polls in full battle regalia. Think about it — when comedians and commentators make fun of the “other side,” they only appeal to half of the population. The fact that they continue their divisive rhetoric tells me they are clueless of their appeal. To be honest, I think this divided result is a gift from above. If either side had won, that winning party could have had so much muscle they would have disregarded the other. But with this balance of power perhaps now they will be forced to respect and to discuss the issues.

Don’t the two parties get it? This is the best opportunity and the best reason for peace. If they slug it out, we all lose. Let’s pray for maturity and wisdom from both sides instead of 2 years of stalemates and insults.

Let’s pray especially for the leaders because It’ll be a challenge to focus on the issues and silence their own party loyalists in the newsroom and social media who feed (ca-ching!) on intrigues and dissatisfaction. They are the source of our dissatisfaction. We should be better than this. Our goal is not for either side to win it all but to accept some hurt and injustice … give a little … take a little … negotiate!

When our forefathers wrote the Constitution, they knew this 2018 political impasse was going to happen. They asked for level heads to preside over their temperamental underlings whose hatred blinded them of the greater possibilities. Our forefathers also asked for one more ingredient … one very important ingredient — they asked for the help of God.

But this is just me.

“Love your enemies. Be kind to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who insult you. If someone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other cheek as well. If someone takes your coat, don’t stop him from taking your shirt. Give to everyone who asks you for something. If someone takes what is yours, don’t insist on getting it back. Do for other people everything you want them to do for you. If you love those who love you, do you deserve any thanks for that? Even sinners love those who love them.”

— Luke 6: 27-32

TGIF people!

Another Oldie But Goodie

Shared by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Videos of the Week

The Oldest Man in the World
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

A Carol Burnett classic. Need I say more?

WATCH VIDEO

Adorable Music Video to Start the Holiday Season
Sent by Terry of Santa Monica, CA

This is a clever visualization of Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.” I love how the perfectly timed musical themes interact. Whoever made this video must read music and appreciate its nuances. This is clever … brilliant.

I guess the holiday season has started. If you get any good jokes or videos, please share!

WATCH VIDEO

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Parting Shot

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this photo

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