“THAT’S NOT FUNNY”…
“Knock – knock”!
“Who’s there”?
“Duane”!
“Duane who”?
“Duane the bathtub, I’m dwowning”!!!
We’d all laugh, my buddy Duane hated that one with a passion. Some things are just funnier when they annoy others. I don’t know what it is?
For the older readers, remember when we were young and one of the pastimes employed by us, the bored, was making crank phone calls?
“Ring – ring” “Ring – ring” —- “Hello”?
“Is your refrigerator running”?
“Why, yes it is”!
“You better go get it before it gets away”!!! “Ha-Ha-Ha”!
How about the one we made to the local grocery store or corner market?
“Ring – ring” “Hello, Hank’s, how can I help you”?
“Do you have Prince Albert in the can”?
“Huh, yes we do.”
“You better let em’ out, he can’t breathe in there”!!! “AAAHHHH-Ha-Ha-Ha”!!!
I remember hearing them grumble something about “dumb kids” as they were hanging up the phone. I even used my hooligan phone skills at home when I knew one of my siblings was going to call at a specific time, (before the dawn of time and caller ID).
I’d sprint full speed and beat everyone to the phone, barely able to hear my dad yelling about “No running in the house,” due to the rush of wind in my ears as I moved like Flash Gordon toward what no one else in the house really wanted to answer anyway.
I’d pick up the phone and start, “Joe’s Cemetery here, you stab em’ we slab em’, some go to heaven, some go to Helllllo there”! Then the typical annoyed command in response, “GET MOM”!
The truth is not many of us enjoy being the brunt of the joke. That’s not funny. Although I was able to chuckle even as a kid when stuck with a tape tail. You remember, a piece of tape about 3 feet long casually stuck to someone’s low back area while “accidentally” brushing up against them.
Then comes the just fed up with the whole hearing and seeing part of the process. In the end as soon as we would ask someone who answered the phone at the market if they had Prince Albert in the can or Barbara Ann in the wrapper, they’d just hang up on us…
It’s a little like hearing a good song on the radio so often, pretty soon we hate it. Kinda like when Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock N’ Roll” comes on — off it goes…
As Christians, we’ve been delivering the same message with our mouths for so long the secular world wants to turn us off or hang up on us. They’ve heard the lines too many times, they don’t want to hear it again.
The world wants to use a different one of their senses… They want to use their eyes, not their ears. A little more sophisticated world knows what we know — actions speak much louder than words.
My friend and pastor Rick Efird quoted this phrase often, it kind of puts it all in perspective, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Point made. Put up or shut up…
If we’re to be like the One who’s name we bear, then like Christ our bodily actions must equal our talk. We need to walk the walk, not talk the talk.
Our dog Lola likes to eat ice cubes and is under anyone’s feet who opens the freezer door. I asked everyone to quit giving her ice cubes because she doesn’t finish them anymore. Last week, I slipped in a puddle of water from an uneaten ice cube melted on our smooth stone floor.
I almost ended up on my butt and barely caught myself by the edge of the countertop.
My wife laughed…
I didn’t…
I guess some things will never change…
Holly
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 2:05 pm
I laughed at that last …..it was funny!
Floyd
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 4:44 pm
Why am I not surprised that you laughed? I suppose the only thing that would have been funnier is if I went all the way down to the floor! Oh well, any attention is better than none at all. Thanks for checking in Holly.
Tammy
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 5:58 pm
“People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
Also known as, “actions speak louder than words.”
I know I can tell the people in my life how much I love them, but none of my words will mean anything if I don’t SHOW it. 🙂
Floyd
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 7:58 pm
Bingo! We’re all built the same way. Nice to hear from you Tammy.
jake
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 6:33 pm
I think that we have a lot of people who are trying to do something different now, but simultaneously, we also have a lot of people doing the same thing. Those ones are the people who suck…. but I digress.
I almost fell walking into Wal*Mart the other night. It was raining and I was wearing my old, worn out Toms– that have ZERO grip… it was almost a disaster, but a funny one at that. I totally could have sued the giant smiley face.
Floyd
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 7:59 pm
“The giant smiley face.” That’s a good one, I’ve never heard that one before. Clever.
patty
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 7:57 pm
Oh,Floyd!
I remember all them thangs we all used to say, and the one is your face hurting its killing me !
My sister and my causens all girls six of us used to do the phone ones when we were left alone long enough we just thought that was the funnist thang ! I remember all of us taking turns on the phone doing our calls !! ha ha good laugh Floyd.brought back fun memories!
Floyd
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 8:02 pm
Thanks Patty, those crank phone calls are part of our heritage aren’t they? My how the times change…
Tammy
Saturday, May 28, 2011 @ 2:29 pm
This wasn’t a prank call line…but our family enjoyed using the “Is that your face, or did your neck throw up?” line for a while…ugh! 😉
Floyd
Saturday, May 28, 2011 @ 5:58 pm
That’s harsh! That’s as bad as the old, “It looks like your face caught on fire and someone put it out with an ice pick”! Kids can be so cruel! Then of course one of my all time favorites, “If I want to hear anything outta’ you, I’ll beat it out of you”! Ahhh, the good ole days…
Pat
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 @ 7:00 pm
LOL !!!!
Floyd
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 @ 7:10 pm
Oh! I see you have a sense of humor like my wife! OK it’s almost funny now…
Lanny Wegleitner
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 @ 9:06 am
Hi Floyd,
I really liked the Duane joke, of course.
What about when someone thinks that they can sing good, but can’t. Do you ask “Do you take requests?” like “Can you sing Far, Far Away!” or What did you ever do with the money your parent’s gave you?” “You know, for singing lessons”.
I still enjoy your writings when I get a chance.
Keep it up.
Thanks again.
Floyd
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 @ 9:51 am
Thank you old friend. How about the one, “Can you sing solo”? -“So low we can’t hear you”! Ahhh, the good ole’ days Huh?
Pat
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 @ 7:12 pm
Oh my! Where to start?
“If you’re gonna talk the talk, you gotta walk the walk.” How many times have I used that one over the years?!
This was a really fun post. I especially love reading the comments people leave you; they’re as good as the posts sometimes!
I loved the quote by Pastor Efird; hope he doesn’t mind me using it – profound.
My dog, Maggie, loves ice too! Tell Lola she has a friend.
And last, but certainly not least: You know you laughed too when you slipped in that puddle – that is, when your heart stopped racing and the blood returned to your face! 🙂
Floyd
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 @ 9:11 pm
OK I did laugh eventually, I’m also guilty even after that of being the one to give Lola ice cubes. Everyone can relate to this kind of “slap-stick” comedy. My friend Pastor Efird won’t mind at all, he read the post and approved. I’m not at all surprised that you and I quote the same quotes, great minds think alike! I’ll tell our little Lossa that she has a friend in the Lone Star State! You gotta know I appreciate your humor and wisdom, it’s priceless!