Ha Ha Heredity

I have a theory that sense of humor is a total genetic trait, like a silly chromosome slipping from banana peel to banana peel down the DNA ladder to the next unwitting generation. To illustrate this point, I will use myself and my father (Big Jeff with two f's) as a case study. Now 2-F Jeff is a delightful guy and a joy to be around, but he is genetically incapable of avoiding bad puns or corny jokes.

His best material goes a little something like this:

2-F: What kind of Fish has two knees?

Unsuspecting
Pun Recipient: I dunno, what kind?

2-F: A Tuneee fish (followed by pride-filled, uproarious laughter at his own wit)

Unsuspecting Pun Recipient: [tongue out and raspberry noise and/or an audible sigh]

As a child, I shared in his giggles over "Laffy Taffy" wrapper jokes and blonde-joke gems he had picked up from guys at work, but other humor snobs sat still faced to his delivery. And today as a 31-year-old, I still find myself smiling about the classic Tuneee Fish material or chuckling at an appalling low-brow e-mail he sends my way. In fact, I believe that it is this steady diet of grade D funny that helped me choose my vocation as a copywriter.

As fate would have it, I too have had to suffer the slings and arrows of the bad-joke deprived. Recently, I helped a friend brainstorm ideas for a wine tasting event. I was so pleased with myself when I came up with the headline You Had Me at Bordeaux. So you can imagine my horror when the March issue of D Magazine wrote, "Before we knew a thing about this event, we wanted to attend just because the pun is that bad." Wait until I call them up with the Tuneee Fish bit! Better yet, I'm sending in 2-F with his entire repertoire of nyuck nyucks!

And speaking of 2-F material, here's one of his latest and greatest:

The Auburn Veterinarian School had a very rare species of gorilla. Within a few weeks the gorilla, a female, became very difficult to handle. Upon examination, the veterinarian determined the problem. The gorilla was in season. To make matters worse, there was no male gorilla available.

Thinking about their problem, the veterinarian thought of Bobby Lee Smith, an Auburn fan and part-time worker responsible for cleaning the animal cages. Bobby Lee, like most rednecks, had little sense but possessed ample ability to satisfy a female of any species. The School Veterinarian thought they might have a solution.

Bobby Lee was approached with a proposition. Would he be willing to mate with the gorilla for $500.00? Bobby Lee showed some interest, but said he would have to think the matter over carefully.

The following day, he announced that he would accept their offer, but only under four conditions.

"First," Bobby Lee said, "I ain't gonna kiss her on the lips."
The Keeper quickly agreed to this condition.

"Second," he said, "You can't never tell no one about this."
The Keeper again readily agreed to this condition.

"Third," Bobby Lee said, "I want all the childrun raised Southern Baptist."
Once again it was agreed.

"And last of all," Bobby Lee stated, "You gotta give me another week to come up with the $500.00."

Love Love

Love as Knock Knock as a Who's There

Love Jef