Proust Question 5

What is your most marked characteristic?

I think other people may have a different opinion but to me it is humor. I find all too often it can be a two edged sword. You think something is funny and when you say it there is an audible gasp from those who are listening. I'll give you an example. A few nights ago we went to a local restaurant with a group of friends. There was a gentleman playing a guitar and singing. He was very good even to the point of mimicking the voices of the original singers of the songs he was performing. He was wearing an occluder over one eye which apparently had been lost to accident or illness. Someone in the group commented that he looked like a pirate. I had been uncharacteristically quiet and one of our group asked what I was thinking. What I should have said was something along the lines of how wonderful the evening was with such nice weather, good friends and great food. That really life doesn't get any better than that evening had been. I didn't go there. I went this way. I said I would like to see the guy performing on Wheel of Fortune to listen for him to say he would like to buy an "i". It was one of those moments when the entire group looks at you with the same look on their face. You know the look. It's the one that says: "What the fuck is wrong with you?" I gave them a moment to recover and then said: "You asked. Bet now you wish you hadn't. I have stuff like that going on in my head all the time. I just don't usually let it out."

Even Carol at times suffers from my attempts at humor. One night we were watching the local news and there was a report about a man killing his wife and then killing himself. It led to the following exchange.
Jeff: "I would never do that."
Carol: "Really?"
Jeff: "Yea, I would never kill myself."
She did not find the exchange at all humorous.

So, if I had any advice to offer it would be this. If you are going to attempt to be funny take a moment or two to consider the audience who will be receiving your words. Sometimes they just aren't ready for the tale you are going to share. It is good to learn when to shut your mouth. I'm a work in progress.