Just Joking

Someone once asked a senior jewish comedian why it seemed so many of the top comics were Jewish. His reply suggested that their families had suffered so much through the years and found humor was the only way to deal with their plight.

Correct or not, it seems most people enjoy a good joke. The emphasis is on the word "most". The worse the times the more frequently humor is both sought out and appreciated. Therefore, we are seeing some truly funny jokes recently.

One such joke appeared in yesterday's USA Today and was attributed to Carol Leifer, author of When You Lie About Your Age, The Terrorists win.

The joke is as follows: Mother Teresa died and went to heaven. God greeted her at the Pearly Gates.'Be thou hungry, Mother Teresa?', asked God.

'I could eat,' replied Mother Teresa.

So God opened a can of tuna, reached for a chunk of rye bread, and they began to share it. While eating this humble meal, Mother Teresa looked down into hell and saw the inhabitants devouring huge steaks, lobsters, and pastries. Curious, but deeply trusting, she remained quiet.

"The next day God again invited her to join him for a meal. Again, it was tuna and rye bread. Once again, Mother Teresa could see the denizens of hell enjoying lamb, turkey and delicious desserts. Still she said nothing.

"The following day, mealtime arrived, and another can of tuna was opened.

She couldn't contain herself any longer. Meekly, she asked,'God, I am grateful to be in heaven with you. But, here in heaven, all I get to eat is tuna and a piece of rye bread, and in the Other Place, they eat like emperors and kings! I just don't understand it . . . '

God sighed. "Let's be honest, Teresa,' he said. For just two people, it doesn't pay to cook.' "

If you enjoyed the joke, perhaps you will like to share it with a friend. If one of your so-called friends hears the joke, acquires a furrowed brow, and asks, "How is the joke teller so sure God isn't a woman?" - move on to the next friend as quickly as possible.

There's nothing tougher or less rewarding than to try to explain a joke to someone who possesses a dubious sense of humor.