FULL MOON

I’ve always had the ability to make people laugh, usually with a spontaneous remark or comment that appears without pre-meditation.  Sometimes I worry that I am close to being a “smart-ass” with some of the things I say.

A few years ago I began writing a studio-galley newsletter on a regular basis (once or twice a month), and in the process discovered that just as in conversation, something humorous would suddenly occur to me and find its way into the writing.  Eventually I became determined to make the letters entertaining as well as informative, but sadly discovered that my humor is like my smile, it cannot be forced or brought about my sheer will power. It is totally unpredictable, emerging during conversation, when writing, or when my thoughts are elsewhere.  I am entirely dependent on the inspired, unconscious quip.  When someone points a camera at me and says “smile”, my face turns to stone. Unless…

Let me tell you a story about one memorable “unless” moment. We had just opened our new medical office in one of the barns on our small Maryland farm.  The local paper thought that was news worthy, and sent a photographer to take some pictures of me in front of the office, holding a piece of my artwork.  As this was happening, Patience was walking several horses to the paddock adjacent to the office and saw me standing there with an idiotic forced smile. Stopping behind the photographer, who had no idea she was there, dear sweet prim and proper Patience (that may be hard to believe, but yes, she really is quite proper.) turned her back to me, dropped her drawers, and gave me a full moon that is forever seared in my memory.  Needless to say, I smiled.  In fact I think I didn’t stop smiling for at least 3 days.  It was a great photo, thanks to a great wife.

Humor is a funny thing.