Sunday Funny

Joe hasn't returned to his old neighborhood since he was drafted and went off to fight in Vietnam. After being diagnosed with prostate cancer and starting hormone therapy, he begins to get nostalgic and decides to visit his hometown.

Everything has changed. Where there was once a delicatessen, there is now a McDonald's. A nail spa and salon is where the dry cleaners used to be. A strip mall is located where an indoor skating rink once stoo. Nothing is the same except for a small little shoe shop tucked into a narrow storefront, Carl's Shoe Repair. Joe remembers that shortly before he was drafted he left a pair of shoes to be repaired.

A small bell tinkles as he enters the dark shop. Carl, who seemed old 45 years ago, shuffles out from the back. He is hunched over, wearing a leather apron, one eye all but closed.

"Excuse me," says Joe, but I used to live in this neighborhood and 45 years ago I left a pair of shoes with you for repair that I never picked up.

Carl stares at him for a moment and asks, "Were they black wingtips?"

"Yes," replies Joe.

"Were they in for a half sole with rubber heels?"

"Yes, that's right!"

"And you wanted taps on the heels only?"

"Yes, yes," says Joe. "Do you still have them?"

Carl looks up at him with his good eye asquint, and says "They'll be ready next Wednesday"

Tim G –

Your joke is definitely an oldie but goodie. I've heard it before, as probably most of us have, but it still brings a smile.

But sometimes jokes have unintended consequences when they are told. For example, the first paragraph of your post, setting up the joke, actually describes in detail, every word of it does actually, the real-life situation that has happened for a number of guys, including some here. It even describes me exactly (except for the "drafted" part, as I voluntarily took Army officer training in college ROTC). So, sometimes jokes make us laugh, but sometimes they also make us think, or remember.

And in my case, the same is true for the rest of the joke, except in reverse. That's because I have lived almost continuously in my own home town (Gainesville, Florida) for most of my life so far. No coming back and being shocked to see all the changes that have happened over time, as I have seen them happening all along. The joke makes me stop and think about that.

Again, an unintended consequence of the joke, but not necessarily a bad one.

Say, I wonder if that might be a good idea for a thread? How do we feel about our old hometowns where we grew up? Good feelings? Bad feelings? And why?

I'm going to think about that and maybe start such a thread.

Again, thank for the joke and making the moment a little lighter.

Tim G Thanks for that information, I will google it. I bet you know this but many don't . That Tolstoys book The Kingdom Of Dog is Within You, directly led to Mahatma Ghandi's practice of peaceful resistance. I have read tolstoys book above…interesting read.. I also have read Ghandi's autobiography{keyword auto} for personal verification. Of course this rippled to MLK's use of same. As einstein said 'somethings moving'

CelebrateLife. My regards to Gary and tell him I know Paramahansa Yogananda very well. I recommend, back to Gary{tho he probably has read it also} Whispers from Eternity from the same author.r Another great read that is better than the title reveals…The Perennial Philosophy.